Feast of Our Lady of the Snows at the hamlet of Mühnes

A high-altitude festival in the Walser heart of Aosta Valley

In Issime, a small municipality in the Lys Valley in the Province of Aosta historically inhabited by a Walser community speaking the Töitschu dialect, August 5th is a date that is renewed every year. It is the day of Our Lady of the Snows, celebrated not in the village but at altitude, in the alpine hamlet of Mühnes, at 2007 metres, in the picturesque San Grato Valley.

The ascent and the chapel

From the early hours of the morning, residents and hikers climb the slopes of San Grato to reach the small alpine chapel. The building was constructed as an ex-voto by the Chouquer brothers, who survived an avalanche, and consecrated in the 17th century: a sign of devotion that still today draws people from Issime and the surrounding areas to walk towards the mountain.

Mass, polenta, and band

Around 11:00 AM, Holy Mass is celebrated in the alpine pasture chapel. Afterwards, the Pro Loco (local tourism association) distributes the traditional polenta and milk, a simple and iconic mountain dish, while the festival continues in the afternoon with musical accompaniment from the local band. This is not a spectacular event in the tourist sense of the term: it is a true popular festival, where the religious rite, the effort of the climb, and the conviviality of the alpine pasture blend together.

Why it's worth it

The Feast of Our Lady of the Snows in Issime is one of the many celebrations that animate the high-altitude sanctuaries of Aosta Valley on August 5th. In Mühnes, however, the charm lies in the Walser context: a German-speaking community of ancient Alpine origin, whose traditions endure in the mountains of the Lys Valley. An opportunity to discover a less-travelled corner of the region, combining hiking and local culture.