The Aosta Valley (French: Vallée d'Aoste [vale dɔst] ⓘ;[a] Italian: Valle d'Aosta [ˈvalle daˈɔsta];[b] Arpitan: Val d'Aoûta [val duta] ⓘ; Walser: Augschtalann or Ougstalland)[c], officially the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley,[d] is a mountainous autonomous region[8] in northwestern Italy.

[12] Early inhabitants of the Aosta Valley were Celts and Ligures, whose language heritage remains in some local placenames.

The region was divided among strongly fortified castles, and in 1191, Thomas I of Savoy found it necessary to grant to the communes a Charte des franchises ("Charter of Liberties") which preserved autonomy—rights that were fiercely defended until 1770, when they were revoked to tie Aosta more closely to Piedmont, but which were again demanded during post-Napoleonic times.

French forces briefly controlled the area at the end of World War II, but withdrew under British and American pressure.

[16] The region gained special autonomous status after the end of World War II; the province of Aosta ceased to exist in 1945.

[9] For decades, the valley has been dominated by autonomist regional parties such as the Valdostan Union, which represents the interests of the French-speaking population.

On 2 March 2023, Renzo Testolin was elected regional president, supported by a coalition of autonomist and progressive lists.

As of 2006[update], the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) estimated that 4,976 foreign-born immigrants live in Aosta Valley, equal to 4.0% of the total regional population.

Due to the autonomy conferred by the special statute, the public sector, which administers most of the regional financial resources, plays a role of primary importance in the Aosta Valley economy.

Aosta Valley has many small and picturesque villages, three of them have been selected by I Borghi più belli d'Italia (English: The most beautiful Villages of Italy),[21] a non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and artistic interest,[22] that was founded on the initiative of the Tourism Council of the National Association of Italian Municipalities.

The Aosta Valley was the first government authority to adopt Modern French as the official language in 1536, three years before France itself.

Education is conducted evenly in French and Italian,[1] so that anyone who has gone to school in the Aosta Valley can speak both languages to at least a medium-high level.

[29] Legal decree No.365 of 11 November 1946 (art.2) states that it is mandatory to know both Italian and French to teach in Aosta Valley's schools.

The population of Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Gressoney-La-Trinité and Issime, in the Lys Valley, speak two dialects of Walser German, Titsch and Töitschu respectively.

The cuisine of Aosta Valley is characterized by simplicity and revolves around "robust" ingredients such as potatoes, polenta; cheese and meat; and rye bread.

Many of the dishes involve Fontina,[37] a cheese with PDO status, made from cow's milk that originates from the valley.

[40] Regional specialities, besides Fontina, are Motzetta (dried chamois meat), Vallée d'Aoste Lard d'Arnad[41] (a cured and brined fatback product with PDO designation), Vallée d'Aoste Jambon de Bosses[42] (a kind of ham, likewise with PDO designation), a dark bread made with rye, and honey.

Notable dishes include Carbonnade, similar to the Belgian dish of the same name consisting of salt-cured beef cooked with onions and red wine served with polenta; breaded veal cutlets called costolette; teuteuns,[43] salt-cured cow's udder that is cooked and sliced; and steak à la valdôtaine,[44] a steak with croûtons, ham and melted cheese.