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Aosta-Tal
© Spiegel-TV 
Karte Aosta-Tal
© jpb
Carte Commune Bionaz
© F.M.B. Bologna
Map of the autonomy region of Aosta-Valley-Italy Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and Monte Rosa: these highlights places of the French and Swiss ski resorts have an equally impressive side on the top of Europe and offer aspects which are nearly unknown, the Aostoian Valley, roots of the Salassian people and predecessors of the Romans. There we want to reflect on the search for our forefathers in a side valley of the Aosta Region. We are trying to make you discover one of these adjacent vallies, the valley of Valpelline-Bionaz, which is very picturesque, with planty of nature and charm where time seems to have come at a stillstand and where traditions are still lively. From there we invite you to go along with us, searching for the past and following the footsteps of our forefathers. Bionaz is also very attractive for those who love the adventure or wish to get in touch with pure nature as well as for families enjoying the silence of the mountains. 
Becca di Luseney
© Claudine Remacle |
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| Valpelline (960 m), main resort of the valley of the same name is located between the rivers Buthier di Ollomont and Buthier di Valpelline. In the middle ages, if not earlier, this area was traversed by those wanting to reach the von Bagnes valley over the Col Collon (2118 m) without climbing over the St Bernard Pass.
It appears these passes were less snow-covered than nowadays and they were easier to pass. Many farmers and merchants from the Wallis and Aosta Valley drove pack animals and cattle along these roads. A sort of salt road existed for centuries between Switzerland and Italy. North East from Valpelline we come to Oyace - where the valley narrows - seeking to visit the section of the Vapellines which extends from the area with the same name up to the massif of the Grandes Murailles which separates it from the Valtournanche near the Matterhorn.
Silhouette vallée de Bionaz
© Remacle, Claudine |
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| The village of Bionaz is situated in the middle of the Aosta valley, in an area known as Valpelline. It is an altitude of 1.600 metres and only 25 km from Aosta. The village is consists of 21 hamlets nestled among woods and mountain pastures. It has most of the characteristics common to the local landscape. These being the wonderfully impressive peaks reaching 4.000 metres, wildlife with beautiful colours, gourmet specialities which enable you to discover the taste of the past that has almost disappeared, a craft industry that is faithfull to traditions, an agricultural history that has livestock farming. All these add up to a perfect place for tourists who want peace and quiet or some adventure. Bionaz boosts the record for differences in altitude in the whole of the valley of Aoste with a progression from 1.490 metres (hamlet of Place) to 4.171 metres (peak of the Herens Crag). Between these two places there is a succession of varied natural landscapes. Therefore, Bionaz certainly deserves the title of the record for " natural diversities". 
Blume
© jpb Bionaz, is best known however for its "nature". You can find the high peaks and spectacular glaciers. This is a unique variety for the valley of Aosta, as far as wildlife is concerned.
Melèze d'automne
© Philippe Schillings The district of Bionaz , situated at the top of Valpelline valley, 25 km from the town Aosta , has an extension of 142 square kilometres and is one of the largest in the Aosta Valley. The villages of the area are scattered at the foot of the vast glacier Tsa de Tsan, wherethe montain stream Buthier, which flows into the Dora Baltea, takes ist source. Bionaz has a population of about 238 inhabitants, whose principal activities are cattle breeding and handicrafts. We do not know if the area was inhabited before the Middle Age, but we do know that of a piece of land belonging to the Bishop was recorded. that there was a community living here during the upper Middle Age. To Bionaz also came some Walser populations, of German descent, that had to settle down in the upper part of the valley. The merchants of the Valley Hérens (Swizterland) in the Vallais area from the village Évolène, had a reserved spot in the Aosta market, wich they reached by crossing the Col Collon mountain pass. At the time a warmer climate allowedcrossing the mountains for a longer period out of the year than now. Bionaz (1606 m) appears suddenly in front of us as we round a bend in the road The village nestles around its small church. Ohters villages are scattered across this part of the depression which drops gradually to the mountain torrent (Buthier). Although the parish of Bionaz has barely 238 inhabitants, it is one of the most extended communities of the Aosta Valley.
Moonlightshadow 
Widlife in Bionaz valley
© jpb Where does the name Bionaz originate? According to the Franco-provincial dialect the "z" was not pronounced originally. Historians believe it can be traced to the Celtic for birch tree (Birktree, Birke). Many birch trees grew in the area and the region's countryside was densely forested. After new information from the book of the Comité des Traditions Valdotaines, the name BIONAZ is comming from the old gaulois word ONNA, ONNE, ONNO is equivalent to the Latin UNDA = stirred up water, floating wave, in general "water flow". This gaulois word is verified in the Viennese glossary from the 5th century the time when the Goths dominated the largest part of central Gaule (the old name for France). In the Valley of Aosta we find toponymes BIONAZ, ONE , written in a charter from 1253, published in the Atlas of the Vicary of Aosta VERDONNA (Oyace), VESSONA (Bionaz), etc. These are founded and looked at as preceding primitives cultures in ONNA signifying "mouth of the river flow". F. Krutwig in "Liguna Arpitana" gives the toponyme BIONAZ and the following explanation: BI = two ONA = water
The church of the main community Biona'z was founded in 1640 as the need for Catholic worship grew and the 5 to 6 hour journey to Valpelline was difficult. Nowadays the church parish of "Don Ivanno" Reboulaz is led with charisma and energy for the younger generation while preserving the ancient traditions.
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Our travels come to an end as a huge and dominating cliff blocks our path. Stop. A new world begins. One of the largest dams in Europe is to be found in Place Moulin. A huge reservoir has resulted from being supplied by 6 large glaciers. This colossal achievement can never compensate for the loss of natural beauty; a tribute demanded by this achievement and civilisation as a whole. After an approximately one hour stroll along the reservoir we come to Praraye (er) (raye, rayette means small meadows for donkeys, chamois, and mountain goats on the shoulder of the Alpine pastures). The shepherd's houses are still there and located nearby is the Praraye mountain refuge managed by Mr. Albino Bionaz and his wife Mme Rosanna Petitjacques, both traditional names in this valley. Once upon a time, a few hundred years ago, this village was occupied the whole year round. Up until the middle of the last century 18 families lived at an altitude of 2,000 m and there was a renouned fair for stock breeding and goods trading (wine, salt, copper). It served as a junction between the upper Valais and the Po river plain. According to legend, the Salassi also found refuge in this hidden valley after theRomans conquered the region. See the homepage of Mr. Parfait.Jans in French for the history of the Salassi.
Sunset about the Grandes Murailles
© Patrizio Bionaz
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Two centuries of move in the population in percent for the 4 mountains villages of the discrit of Valpelline.
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Range of Luseney
© jpb In this valley you meet visibly two differents types of inhabitants. A first type would be the inhabitant of the lower valley living mainly within the limits around the principal village of Valpelline, a second type residing in the higher parts is mainly limited to the region of Bionaz.
The inhabitant of Valpelline and Ollomont, deeply attached to his propriety and his house, of medium stature, mostly tending to redisch hair, with vivid and intelligent eyes, slowly in his determinations, impassive towards outside happenings, reminds of the type of the villages Quart and Villeneuve in the Aostian valley and his predominant physical conditions recall to one's mind the characters of the savoyen people that can consider itself also to have been an indigenous sort of people.
In the upper valley (Oyace, Bionaz, La Léchère, Place-Moulin, Prarayer) the type changes. The calm inhabitant becomes more restless and quickly in his determinations, he has a remarkable stature, nearly an athletic one, his face contours are broader, and in general, the fair-haired type is pre-dominating. The English mountaineer King who crossed the valley in 1855 was astonished about that fact and stated to have met in this group of inhabitants the same predominant features as those of the teutonic race (Germany). Especially the women, they, due to their kindness, to the love for their house and the physical culture they dedicate to themselves, leave an unique impression which, in effect, won't be found in any other place of the Aosta region and may suggest the idea of a real race replacment which, ignored by the history, has taken place since centuries. In our mind we would not find it improbable that also in that place like at Gressoney a colony of Teutonic origin, being driven there by the events, has settled. |
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| In 1220 men of Evolène attacked the people of Bionaz who defeated them. Making reprisals, people of Bionaz went until Evolène in order to treat the enemy badly but, this time, they were defeated and obliged to return home. In the year 1233 a durable peace agreement was signed between both the people of the neighbouring vallies. A new treaty was approved again in 1329 in which they assured each other mutual help and support. In 1517 a big meeting was held on the market place of Sion. On this occasion it was decided to destroy the mountain pass of Collon because, during the war against the Duke of Savoy in 1475, the troups of that duke could have been easily able to invade into Valais and give a warning to the capital. This decision was catched on again in 1525 and recalled to the mind of the Hérens‘ people. The decision was renewed in 1529. For incidence, the delegation sent to Sion had taken an advantage from that and the pass which permitted the passage to the Aostian valley did not turn out to be impassable. In 1609 a new treaty of good neighbourhood was signed at Legeta, at the end of the Aostian valley. In 1859 one tried to let go through the pass a herd of 64 pieces but unfortunately it was surprised by bad whether and got entirely lost. Probably it was in that year that animal passing through the pass of Collon was stopped. |
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| In 1630 part of the population in the lower Aosta valley perished as a result of the so-called "Spanish Plague" while the Valpelline from Oyace/ Bionaz was preserved. Many Bionaz moved to occupy empty villages in the lower part of the valley thus spreading the name to Aosta and the surrounding areas. Around the end of the last century a wave of emmigrants (resulting from industrialisation and the politics of the time) were forced to find work in large cities, e.g Paris, Geneva, Lyon, Annecy and even in America. This spread the name within Europe and in America, initially on the East coast in Pennsylvannia followed by a second line in Colorado and finally a third in California. The Bionaz preserved their ancestors traditions (particularly in Denver Colorado, Eagle/ Aspen and the surrounding areas) by producing the famous cheeses (Fontina) and through their activities as stock breeders and ranchers. The area reminded them of their homeland. 
Old Bionaz 1925
© Paola Petitjacques For further information, refer to our links or cross-references as we are always on the look-out for more Bionaz and the world has become smaller thanks to the Internet and have a look to Madame Lisa Baker for more Bionaz in America We hope our family tree will be blessed with new blossom each month. Thank you for taking the time to read this concise history of this ancient Valdotanic name.For more info. e.m@il us under: bio@nexgo.de or above with the button Forum. There are good possibilities for cross-crountry skiing in winter with circuits (some are F.I.S.I recognized) near the villages of Dzovennoz, Lexert and Balmes . In Place Moulin (1980m) there is the largest arch shaped waterdam in Europe, which has a capacity of 105 million of m³ of water. Moreover further sports activities are available: free-climbing, mountain-bike, trekking, sport-fishing , mountaineering, rock-climbling and ice-climbing. Thanks for the clergyman Mr. "Don Ivanno" Reboulaz and his crew for the information about the church and his history and the followings Ladies and gentlemens in the village Bionaz:
Mr. Giulio Venturini, ex. Major/Syndic from the village Bionaz the new one till May 2005 Mr. Armando Chentre Family Bionaz/Petitjacques, Rosanna & Albino and sons, Owners of the mountain hut Prarayer Madame Petitjacques Paola, employee of the municipality Bionaz Madame Chentre Alina, widowed Bionaz and her daughter Cristina Madame Elfrieda Roullet, teacher Madame Claudine Remacle, architect Mr. Dirk Kerremans, manager of the new youth hostel for them support during our stay in june 2001 for the fest of the familiy's Bionaz in the village BIONAZ. This homepage is in memory and a tribute to our parents, Mme. Irène Bionaz, born Müller, and father Luigi-Angelo Bionaz and Mr. Hector Bionaz, mountain-guide and his lovely family for his wife Alina. 
Ettore Bionaz
© Cristina Bionaz  This photo and website is a tribute to our father Louis-Angelo Bionaz who passed away on the 12th Oktober 2005
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Guide de la Vallée d'Aoste et Val Pennines La Peau de l' Aurochs, roman, Saint-Loup (Marc Augier) 1952, Éditions Plon. La Revue "Lo Flambò" du Comité des Traditions Valdôtaines, No. 4 Hiver 1986, page 117, auteur Prof. R. Berton et No. 4, Hiver 1994, page 128, auteur, Aimé Chenal. et No. No. 1, Printemps 1990, page 78, auteur Aimé Chenal. Bulletin Paroissial du Diocèse d'Aoste, Les Paroisses du Buthier, Bionaz-Oyace-Ollomont-Valpelline, avec la bonté et l'accord de Mgr. Le Curé "Don Ivanno" Reboulaz et l'Évèché d'Aoste. Divers bulletins 1988 - 2001 Author: Intermedia4u, team, Paderborn, North-Rhine-Westfalia,Germany © Copyright 1997 . All rights reserved.
Jean-Pierre Bionaz
© jpb 2006 Schweiz |
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