The town's name comes from the French word Breuil and probably indicates the swampy plain areas of the mountain Cervinia, however, the name was assigned to the town during the Fascist era.
Famous skiing resort, part of the town of Valtournenche, Breuil is situated in a valley at the foot of the Matterhorn at about 2000 meters and is one of the most famous stations of the European Winter sports: the ski slopes, intertwined with those of Zermatt in Switzerland on the slope of Matterhorn, at 3,900 meters altitude, and with those of Valtournenche, form the Matterhorn Ski Paradise, composed of 200 kilometers of slopes.
Breuil is a good starting point to take several excursions to the Blue Lake (a small lake surrounded by conifers, located near the town centre), and to the Plateau Rosa, a glacier at 3500 meters above sea level (great for Summer skiing) and the higher crest of Furggen.
In Summer the Golf Club Cervino located at over 2000 meters of altitude, offers to all golf fans a challenging course.
The discovery of some rock engravings, document that the valley was already inhabited during the Iron Age. The location was already known at the end of 1700 by mountain climbers that attempted to reach the nearby peaks, but it was in the 30s', when the valley of Breuil Cervinia, dominated by the magnificent Mount Matterhorn, a majestic granite pyramid, with Courmayeur, it became one of the most famous tourist destination of the Val d'Aosta, thanks to the presence of cableway installations, hotels and sports facilities.
Not to miss:
The Plateau Rosa, which features the highest reachable car cable point on the Italian side at 3550 meters. There is an observation point from where it is possible to admire Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Viso, and other peaks. The Museum, famous for being edified at one of highest points in Europe features photos and vintage climbing articles that testify the commitments and difficulties necessary to achieve the construction of this building at such a high altitude.
The Blue Lake
The Lake Goillet, located at 2550 meters above sea level. It is a reservoir used to produce electricity and artificial snow for the artificial rink.
The Museum at the Casa delle Guide (Home of the local guides) dedicated to the Matterhorn