Veillà d'Etroubles

When the village goes back in time

The Veillà d'Etroubles is one of the most beloved historical reenactments in the Aosta Valley. One August evening, the medieval village of Etroubles — a municipality in the upper Gran San Bernardo valley along the Via Francigena, in the Province of Aosta — comes alive along the main street and side alleys with scenes of daily life from the past, recreated by the village inhabitants.

Crafts of yesteryear

The heart of the event is the demonstrations of traditional crafts, recreated live by over a hundred volunteers from the Pro Loco and the village. You can observe:

• The processing of Fontina cheese and butter production
• Grain threshing and potato harvesting
• Wool spinning and weaving, seamstresses and the making of traditional costumes
• The blacksmith, woodcutters, sawyers, and sausage making
• Washerwomen, vintage firefighters, chimney sweeps, and traditional games

Gastronomy and celebration

Along the route, there are tasting points with Aosta Valley specialties: seupetta (a hearty soup), minestrone, polenta, sausage, and cheeses, as well as the traditional raspberry cream, merveilleux pastries, and black bread baked for the occasion. The evening concludes with music and dancing in the square, in an atmosphere that blends memory and village celebration.

A tradition spanning decades

Born in 1984, the Veillà is now a fixed event of the Aosta Valley summer: in 2025, the 40th edition was celebrated. It's an opportunity to rediscover the peasant and artisan roots of the Etroubles community, in one of the most characteristic villages of the Gran San Bernardo valley.