The copper trail

The Fabrique

In the early 18th century, Count Perrone built a number of factories in Valpelline, creating an important industrial district at the entrance to the village, known today as La Fabrique.

Starting from the early 1700s, count Perrone builds some factories in Valpelline and acquires the land and woods for the exploitation of timber, giving life, to the entrance of the village of Valpelline, to an important industrial district now known as La Fabrique.
From the moment of greatest exploitation, in the middle of the 1700s, until the end of the 1800s, the works proceed intermittently.
A detailed description of the first processing techniques can be found in the reports of the inspector Esprit-Benoît Nicolis de Robilant, who describes the activity in the second half of the 18th century. An initial sorting of the material takes place in the proximity of the mines. The extracted material is calcined on top of a layer of wood near the Les Rey complex in Ollomont, then loaded on the back of a mule and sent to the Valpelline foundries, which at that time consisted of two “elevated furnaces”, fed by several hydroeolic shafts, located upstream of the village.

The foundries

Built in the early 1900s, the Valpelline smelters processed 60 tonnes of ore per day thanks to an advanced sleeve furnace. For water supply, they made use of the Pompillard ru that passes nearby.

In the early of the 20th century, following a new attempt to resume mining, new foundries were built in Valpelline on the orographic left of the river.
Between 1905 and 1906 the construction of a large sleeve oven with fourteen blowing mouths, capable of treating 60 tons of material daily, began.
The treatment of the mineral is carried out according to the German method of roasting and reducing in sleeve ovens.
The furnaces and roasting furnaces are connected to a chimney leaning against the mountain, which allows to bring sulfur dioxide to a height of about 100 meters from the foundry floor.
During the mining period, the ru Pompillard, which passes close to the foundries, is used to supply water to the plants.
The path that follows the site of the canal also allows direct connection with the foundries of Quart where, on land owned by count Perrone, the factories are built for the further processing of the extracted material.

Valpelline playground

The Valpelline playground, located along the Copper Trail and near the historic foundries, combines fun and historical learning in a natural environment, perfect for families.

The Valpelline playground offers a wonderful combination of fun and history. Located along the Sentiero del Rame (Copper Path), this park can be easily reached by following the ru Pompillard from the historic foundries of Valpelline, a relaxing route through the green countryside that offers a glimpse into the history of copper processing in the area, or directly by car thanks to the convenient parking area nearby.

This playground, set in the verdant Valpelline valley, is the perfect place for families. Children can run, jump and play in a safe and stimulating environment, surrounded by nature. Each game is designed not only to entertain, but also to make young visitors aware of the area’s mining history.

When the children have had their fill of games and adventures, families can continue exploring the Copper Trail, discovering other fascinating points of interest along this historical and cultural route.

Valpelline Museum

Soon available

Valpelline plants

In the 1920s, under the management of the Società Anonima Nazionale Cogne, advanced mining facilities and a hydroelectric power plant were built in Valpelline, modernising the extraction and transport of ore.

In the last phase of exploitation of the mines, with the transition to the Società Anonima Nazionale Cogne around the end of the 1920s and a promising resumption of extraction work, some new plants are built in Valpelline aimed at modernizing the extraction, production and transport phases.

Near the village of Le Cumet in Valpelline, the old hydroelectric plant, built to supply the energy necessary for the operation of the plants, is still visible.
A milling, flotation and washing plant is built between the villages of Chez-les-Chuc and Arliod upstream of the road to Valpelline, on the orographic right. The large structure, with several levels sloping down to the ground, also serves as the arrival station of the cable car from the lower Frissonière. The carts discharge the mineral directly into the grinding plant which it then delivers into the flotation plant, to obtain the separation of the ganga from the mineral.

The haulage level of Frissonière

The 2.5-kilometre-long tunnel with the adjacent cable car provided a link between the Saint-Jean mines in Ollomont and the foundries in Valpelline for the transport of ore. It is now used as a fontina warehouse with sales and tasting.

Both the tunnel and the cable car (about 2 km in length), open on March 29th, 1909. The cable car is located in front of the excavation on the other side of the stream, on the orographic left, which allowed the connection with the Valpelline foundries.

It runs for 2.5 km and is connected to the cultivation tunnels of the Saint-Jean section in Ollomont at the height of level called Santa Barbara. It performs the function of unloading the material: from here a cable car transports the extracted mineral to the foundries in Valpelline, downstream from the village on the orographic left, for initial pro- cessing.

Subsequently, the material is transported to Quart to provide for the subsequent processing and distribution.

Near the tunnel there are also some buildings that house a warehouse, a workshop, a munitions depot, housing for workers and a room for pu- mping water.

It is currently used as a storage warehouse for Fontina.

For visits and information visit the website of the Cooperativa Produttori Latte e Fontina

The Les Rey mining complex

The heart of the Ollomont mining complex, active from the 1700s to 1945, went from a period of maximum activity to abandonment, later becoming partly a summer colony and 'Casa Alpina' of the Barnabite Fathers.

Near the village of Les Rey lies the heart of the Ollomont mining complex.
In the early 1700s, Count Perrone, in partenrship with the lawyer Jean-François Ferrod, starts mining works. The phase of maximum yield occurs between the second half of the 1700s and the Napoleonic age followed by phases of activity reduction.
An attempt at recovery comes from the Società Anonima Minières et Fonderies de Valpelline, but it is not successful. In 1929 it is sold to the Società Anonima Nazionale Cogne which resume work and the mine continued to be exploited throughout the period of the conflict to meet the needs of war. The exploitation ceases in 1945, when the mine is definitively closed and the company definitively renounce the mining concession in 1952.
After the war, the Società Nazionale Cogne transforms part of the buildings into a summer camp for children. The building complex in the hamlet of Morion, used as accommodation for administrative and technical staff, also becomes a tourist building known as the “Casa Alpina” of the Barnabite Fathers.

The mining village

The buildings in the mining village of Les Rey, built in the second half of the 19th century, were built to ac- commodate various functions such as such laboratories for maintenance, forging and housing for miners. These two storied parallel buildings have pavilion rooves that, from an architectural point of view, copy features of those designed by De Robilant at the end of the 1700s.
During the 1800s, with the expansion of the copper market it is necessary to strengthen the processes immediately following the extraction, and therefore the plants on site are expanded and strengthened with the realization, in 1809, of a “bocard” for the beating of the material and a washery.
In the 1930s, thanks also to the Società Anonima Nazionale Cogne, there are additional housing for workers and administrative and technical staff, offices, warehouses, communal lounges, barns, a stable, a hydroelectric plant, the compressor room, the electric sawmill, some powder kegs located in a decentralized position for safety reasons and barracks for security personnel.

The Sant’Anna gallery

In the early 1900s, to facilitate the handling of the extracted mineral, some new carriage tunnels are opened in the Saint-Jean section at a lower altitude than the first excavations – which are located about 120 meters upstream of Les Rey – such as the Saint-Jean tunnel and the Sant’Anna tunnel at 1,360 meters, at the level of the stream near the square of the Les Rey factories.
From this level three wells are also dug, called Saint-Jean, Challant and Arolla, which follow the slope of the cultivation channels, descend for about 150 meters and are used for service activities such as the handling of extracted material, miners and the removal of water that flood most of the tunnels up to the level of the stream.
In correspondence with the last two, hydraulic turbines are also installed, driven by a channel diverting the water of the stream, to ensure the operation of the pumps.
Wooden walkways allow one to cross the stream and also the transport of material using carts directly to the overlooking factories.

Infopoint and archaeometallurgy workshop

The Ollomont Mines Infopoint, together with its archaeometallurgy workshop, offers a journey of discovery into mining history and ancient copper processing techniques, with information panels, videos and interactive demonstrations.

Ollomont Mines Infopoint

Located in the heart of the historic Ollomont mining area, the Infopoint is a discovery and learning centre where visitors can immerse themselves in the rich history and significance of local mining. Through informative panels and engaging videos, the Infopoint offers an educational journey through time, revealing mining techniques, the lives of miners and the impact of mining on the local community.

This space is perfect for anyone interested in exploring the cultural and industrial heritage of Ollomont, offering an in-depth perspective on the importance of mining in the region’s history. Whether you are a history buff, a student, or simply curious, the Ollomont Mines Infopoint is an essential stop to understand the mining heritage of this fascinating area of the Aosta Valley Alps.

Laboratory of archaeometallurgy

Near the infopoint, discover the fascination of Bronze Age metallurgy in this interactive workshop. Here you can follow the path of copper, from its extraction to its transformation into artefacts, through two main stages:

1. From Ore to Metal: This phase includes the extraction and selection of ore, enrichment to remove impurities, roasting to transform copper sulphides into oxides, and smelting to separate the iron oxide from the metalline. Finally, conversion or second smelting loses the iron sulphide and produces copper ore.
2. From Metal to Manufactured: This phase begins with the refining of black copper to obtain the purest ‘rosetta copper’, followed by casting, where copper is melted and mixed with tin and lead to obtain bronze. The process concludes with the finishing of the tools (axes, arrowheads, etc.), which can also be moulded in wood.

The workshop offers a unique educational experience, allowing you to understand the complexity and ingenuity of ancient metallurgical techniques. Come and explore the secrets of transforming minerals into precious objects of daily use on a journey back in time, to the heart of Ollomont’s mining history.

Ollomont Adventure Park

Located near the Saint-Jean Mines, the Ollomont Adventure Park offers a unique mix of fun and learning, with mining-themed acrobatic courses, ideal for all ages and perfect for educational, corporate and leisure activities.

At the heart of the mining complex, a short distance from the Infopoint and along the route leading to the Saint-Jean Mine galleries, the Ollomont Adventure Park promises an incomparable play and sports experience. Surrounded by an enchanted forest, this park is easily accessible, making it ideal for families, school groups, tourists and team building enthusiasts.

The Adventure Park, with its mining-inspired high-wire acrobatic courses, offers fun and excitement for visitors of all ages. While children explore and develop psychomotor skills, teenagers and adults can safely challenge themselves. In addition, the park becomes an ideal educational platform for educational activities focusing on sustainability and ecology.

The park can be used for theme days, overnight activities and tailor-made corporate programmes, with a focus on environmental friendliness thanks to nature-friendly installation techniques.

The Ollomont Adventure Park is an invitation to experience an exciting adventure in a mountain setting, exploring the rich mining heritage of the area. This special place promises fun, personal growth and increased environmental awareness.

TIMETABLES

Everyday from 10 A.M. to 7 P.M.

PRICES

• Standard: 20€
• Standard + zipline: 26€
• Children (undre 13 years old): 12€
• Children + zipline: 18€

Family packages and mines + adventure park packages are available.

For more information:

miniere.ollomont@gmail.com

Cristian +39 331 95 83 294

Saint Jean section

Discovered in the 18th century, it is the first deposit in Ollomont to be cultivated. It develops vertically on various excavation levels between 1040 and 1525 metres and has undergone various evolutions over time.

This is the first of the Ollomont mines to be discovered and exploited, starting from the early 1700s. There are several access tunnels, upstream of the village of Les Rey. In the early 1900s, the lower Sant’Anna tunnel is opened, making it easier to transport the material extracted to Les Rey’s factories.
The section rises vertically over dozens of excavation levels from an altitude of 1040 meters to 1525 meters, for about 150 meters horizontally.
In 1808 a system with a hydraulic wheel is created for the disposal of leaking water, which has always been a serious problem in the reservoir.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, under the management of the Belgian count Victor Seyssel d’Aix, the Aosta Valley scientist Innocenzo Manzetti was commissioned to create a new system for draining the infiltration water from the well.
To facilitate transport operations, in 1906 the excavation of a lower tunnel began in the hamlet of Frissonière, thus allowing direct connection to the Santa Barbara level.

The Balme section

Started in 1850, activity in the Balme mine intensified after 1857, extending over ten levels and 200 metres horizontally and vertically, with a vertical service shaft for transporting material and removing water.

The activity in the Balme mine begins around 1850 but it is only with the interruption of the work in the Saint-Jean well in 1857, due to the breakdown of a machine for the extraction of water, that the company directs the activity in this area, not having obtained great results at first.
It is explored for about 200 meters horizontally and for as many vertically, from 1227 meters to 1431 meters above sea level, on ten levels of tunnels.
Cultivation takes place starting from a system of horizontal tunnels connected to the surface through a vertical service shaft about 100 meters in height through which the movement of the extracted mate- rial, the passage of miners and the removal of leaking water takes place. The entrance to this well is created inside a cave dug into the rock and called the “winch chamber”.
The Balme tunnel, whose entrance below the “square of the well” at an altitude of 1372 meters is no longer visible today, is the main excavation and runs horizontally for more than 200 meters.

Vaud section

The Vaud mining section, opened in 1868 and located upstream from Balme, remains underdeveloped despite its potential, extending over two levels with a short tunnel and a descending tunnel.

In the area of Vaud, further upstream, smaller, less important works are carried out. Although it is a pro- mising field for which a connection with the Balme section has also been foreseen, it is never further developed.
It is opened in 1868 on the orographic left of the stream at an alti- tude of 1570 meters, 600 meters further north of the Balme mine. It is spread over just two levels and consists of a short 15-meter tunnel that leads into a five-meter-deep shaft.