Château Verdun Safe House
A medieval fortress dating from the 10th–11th centuries, donated in 1137 to the Canons of the Great St. Bernard: a place of historical significance and hospitality for travelers.
Nine Centuries of Hospitality Along the Via Francigena
Located at an altitude of 1,350 meters in Saint-Oyen, Château-Verdun is a monumental fortified house dating back to the 10th–11th centuries. In 1137, Count Amadeus III of Savoy donated it to the Canons of the Great St. Bernard Hospice, who transformed it into a farm and a strategic resting place for travelers before the climb up the pass.
The Structure Today
Fully restored, the fortified house retains its original purpose as a place of hospitality:
- Vacation home: managed by the Diocese of Aosta, it welcomes pilgrims on the Via Francigena, families, and groups with 80 beds, a monumental hall, and an interior chapel.
- Regina Pacis Benedictine Monastery: One wing of the complex houses a community of cloistered Benedictine nuns, with opportunities for guests to participate in the liturgy.
Highlights
Saint-Oyen
At 1,373 m above sea level along the Via Francigena: Saint-Oyen is a historic waystation village, nestled among pastures, pine forests, and Alpine cuisine, home of Jambon alla Brace.
Image Gallery
