Canon EOS 250D | 72mm | 1/1250s | f/8 | ISO 200 Taken on 02/02/2020. * Repost * I was making my way back down from Castello Gamba to the town centre in Châtillon when I spotted Castello di Ussel (Ussel Castle) under a moody sky. Built in the 14th century by the Challant family and subsequently passed to the Savoys, Ussel Castle marks a stark shift from other castles dotted around Aosta Valley because it never underwent further construction under their ownerships, and so its original form has been kept intact. From the angle I took this photo, you can see how this block castle – one of the first examples of its kind in the region of Aosta – is eclipsed by snowcapped mountains. What this photo doesn't quite show immediately, though, is how Castello di Ussel stands on a high rocky peak, overlooking the town of Châtillon and thus playing a crucial role in surveilling the area. As far as I'm aware (as I haven't been inside the castle yet), Castello di Ussel can only be visited by booking in advance. Given how the castle has been able to keep hold of its original features, it's surely worth a visit, especially if you're planning on exploring Aosta Valley in greater depth. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: The easiest way to reach Castello di Ussel using public transport is taking a train from Aosta, Pont-Saint-Martin or Ivrea to Châtillon and then walking up to the castle from there (roughly 2km uphill). After visiting the castle, you could then walk back down to Châtillon and have a well-deserved bite to eat there. ______________________________________ #castellodiussel #chatillon #aostavalley #valledaosta #italia #italy #ilikeitaly #moodysky #landscapephotography #travelblogger #lonelyplanet #forbestravelguide #lovevda #ig_italia #yallersitalia #volgoitalia #ig_aosta #yallersaosta #volgoaosta #tesori_italiani #lensbible #visiteurope #total_italy #click_vision #wanderlust #createcommune #travelzoo #natgeoitalia #raw_italy #italianlandscapes (at Châtillon, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD7NZh6omf5/?igshid=fdz6aboq04v0
