Patronal Festival of Saint Cassian and La Badoche in La Salle

A Centuries-Old Festival at the Foot of Mont Blanc

In La Salle, Valdigne, the patronal festival in honor of Saint Cassian is the most anticipated event of the summer. Three days of celebrations intertwining faith, tradition, and social life, during which the village relives the gestures and sounds of the past. The heart of the festival is an ancient and identity-defining tradition: La Badoche.

La Badoche, Between Costumes and Accordions

La Badoche is a parade of young, unmarried men and women, dressed in traditional costume, who walk through the town accompanied by accordions, carrying a decorated plate for offerings and a halberd adorned with flowers. According to local tradition, this custom may have its roots in ancient Celtic initiation rites. During the square dances, the badoche invites residents to dance following a precise sequence, in one of the most evocative and participatory moments of the festival.

Tournaments, Traditional Dinners, and Dances

Alongside La Badoche, the three days offer palet tournaments (a traditional Aosta Valley game), traditional dinners featuring agnolotti, cheeses, and other mountain specialties, square dances with local bands, concerts, and entertainment for the entire community. The festival traditionally concludes with a charity auction late in the evening.

A Community Coming Together

Organized by the Società di San Cassiano, the patronal festival of La Salle is much more than an event: it is the moment when the entire Valdigne community comes together around its roots. For visitors, it is an opportunity to discover one of the most authentic and lesser-known traditions of the Aosta Valley, far from mass tourist circuits.