As part of the Interreg Italy–Switzerland ALCOTRA 2014–2020 programme, dedicated to cross-border cooperation, the MiMonVe project – “The Mines around Mont Vélan” – has been successfully completed. The initiative involved the Municipality of Ollomont (Valpelline, Aosta) in the recovery and enhancement of the historic chalcopyrite mine, active from the early 18th century until 1952.

The project included a series of interventions aimed at the conservation, safety, and public accessibility of an important industrial archaeology site. In particular, the work focused on:

  • Securing the Saint-Jean gallery, making it safely accessible to visitors;
  • Reopening the Balme shaft, restoring visibility and function to a key element of the mining structure;
  • Creating a visitor centre in Les Rey, equipped with a complete and modern museum installation.

The new exhibition space features forex information panels, mineralogical and petrographic specimens, video and audio content, and in-depth materials accessible via QR codes, offering an immersive journey into the history of mining activities and the local territory.

Overall, the MiMonVe project has contributed to:

  • Preserving and enhancing the memory of mining work in Ollomont;
  • Safeguarding a heritage of great historical and cultural significance;
  • Creating a cultural and tourist thematic route dedicated to the Mont Vélan mines;
  • Establishing a new documentation centre on geo-mineralogical, mining, and metallurgical technology topics, aimed at schools, visitors, and researchers.

An initiative that brings together historical recovery, innovative communication, and attention to the local landscape, offering new cultural and tourism opportunities for the community and for all enthusiasts of mining history.

Credits:

Marco Di Perna and Gianluca Odetto — Sertec Engineering Consulting s.r.l.
Gianni Maja — Sertec Facility Management s.r.l.
Annalaura Pistarino — Former curator at the Regional Museum of Natural Sciences of Turin.

https://www.anms.it/upload/rivistefiles/MS_19-2025_pp.75-84_Di%20Perna%20et%20al.pdf