Summer mode: ON. Lifts open from May 31st.

Click here to check the Champoluc–Crest gondola schedule in Ayas valley.

Val d'Ayas

The Soapstone of Saint Jacques

By: Comune di Ayas

la pietra ollare

Many of the old buildings of St. Jacques upon close scrutiny show one particularity: soapstone truncated cones used as building material or as paving in front. Have you ever wondered why?

These are the remains of the processing of green stone (serpentinites, prasinites, amphibolites) obtained from the Ayas quarries and used since the 4th century. A.D. for the manufacture of pots, stoves, capitals, sculptures, tombstones, stoups, mortars, window frames, etc. Very original is the circular stoup walled inside the chapel of St. Jacques, decorated with Romanesque motifs.

The inhabitants of the Val d'Ayas extracted a hard soapstone from the quarries of Verra, Vascoccia and Ruec, from which they obtained blocks of coarse-grained chloritoschist, easily recognizable by their grey-green streaks. The peculiarity of these rocks is that they are easily workable as soon as they are extracted and harden only afterwards, that they keep the heat for a long time and do not give any flavor to food.

Various smaller and smaller containers were obtained from a single block on the hydraulic lathe until the carrots were left as waste which, piled up in large quantities, were then also used as support for the chimneys throughout the valley (some beautiful ones are found in Magnéaz ) and more recently as borders for flowerbeds (Frachey), decoration of walls and candle holders.

Every summer, in the second half of August, the Soapstone Festival is held in Saint Jacques. A day dedicated to this ancient tradition with guided tours of archaeological excavations and creative workshops.

Contacts

Office Régional du Tourisme

Email: valdayas@turismo.vda.it

Phone: 0125 307113

On the same topic

sabots esposti in un villaggio di Ayas

Val d'Ayas

Culture

The Sabots of Ayas

Diga del Gabiet

Valle di Gressoney

Culture

Exposure on hydropower in the Gressoney Valley.

water source of life and energy
Champorcher

Valle di Champorcher

Active

Champorcher 1.427 m.

Walser women's dress from Gressoney

Valle di Gressoney

Culture

History & Culture Gressoney

Gressoney and its History
Alpenfaunamuseum

Valle di Gressoney

Culture

Alpenfaunamuseum

The Luigi Beck Peccoz Museum of Alpine Fauna
Cappella di S.Anna

Valle di Gressoney

Culture

Chapels in the Lys Valley

Places of history and worship
Antagnod, piazzetta Chiesa San Martino

Val d'Ayas

Culture

History of Ayas

The Valley of the Merchants
Alpe di Mera

Valsesia

Active

Alpe di Mera 1.500 m.

champoluc

Val d'Ayas

Culture

Champoluc's old town

Agenzia

Val d'Ayas

Active

The Agency Snow&Feelings accompanies you to discover the beauty of Monterosa

Woman in a Walser costume

Valsesia

Culture

Legends, songs and traditions

Estate 2025 - Orari e date di apertura degli impianti

Active

Summer 2025 - Lift opening timetables and dates

Villaggio di Mascognaz

Val d'Ayas

Culture

Mascognaz village

A fairytale village made of chalets
Castello di Issogne

Val d'Ayas

Culture

Issogne's Castle

Refined residence of the Counts of Challant
antagnod

Val d'Ayas

Culture

The village of Antagnod

Brusson

Val d'Ayas

Active

Brusson 1.338 m.

rascard

Val d'Ayas

Active

Trekking to discover the Walser villages

 Walser village

Valsesia

Culture

The Walser age, alagna foundation

Lyskamm

Valle di Gressoney

Culture

The seven men who conquered the glaciers

The history of modern mountaineering was born in Gressoney
Chiesa SJ

Valle di Gressoney

Culture

The Churches

The heart of each village and its community

Browse