Bionaz
Bionaz (Valdôtain: Bioun-a; Biona from 1939 to 1946) is a comune sparso[3] which extends over 143 square kilometres (55 sq mi) of the North-Eastern Valpelline area of the Aosta Valley region of northwest Italy. The commune lies on the left side of the river Dora Baltea. The population of about 240 is dispersed among 20 or more small alpine villages and hamlets including Plan-de-Veyne, which is the main centre and the capoluogo (locally and officially also chef-lieu, in French). The commune belongs to the Unité des communes valdôtaines du Grand-Combin.
Bionaz | |
---|---|
Comune di Bionaz Commune de Bionaz | |
Coat of arms | |
Location of the commune within the Aosta Valley region | |
Location of Bionaz | |
Bionaz Location of Bionaz in Italy Bionaz Bionaz (Aosta Valley) | |
Coordinates: 45°52′N 7°25′E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Aosta Valley |
Province | none |
Frazioni | See Villages, hamlets and other centres |
Government | |
• Mayor | Armando Chentre (elected 2005-05-09) |
Area | |
• Total | 142.82 km2 (55.14 sq mi) |
Elevation | 1,606 m (5,269 ft) |
Population (December 2006)[2] | |
• Total | 241 |
• Density | 1.7/km2 (4.4/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Bionassins |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 11010 |
Dialing code | 0165 |
Patron saint | Saint Margaret |
Saint day | 20 July |
Website | Official website |
Villages, hamlets and other centres
The commune's statute (Ministero dell’Interno 2002) designates the following localities, in addition to the capoluogo of Bionaz itself, as frazioni (locally officially called hameaux, in French). Where the official form of the name differs from the name in common use, the latter is given in brackets:
- Les Balmes (Balmes)
- Chentre
- Chez-Chenoux (Chez Chenoux)
- Chez-Noyer (Chez Noyer)
- Chez-les-Merloz (Chez les Merloz)
- Les Crêtes (Cretes)
- Les Dzovennoz (Dzovennoz)
- Lexert
- Les Ley (Ley)[4]
- Le Moulin (Moulin)
- Perquis
- Les Places (Places)
- La Quelod (La Quellod)
- Les Rey (Rey)
- Les Rus (Ru)[5]
- Les Vagères (Vagère)
- Le Vianoz (Lo Vianoz)
The following localities, villages and other places not formally designated as frazioni, are also listed in the bulletin:
- Chamein (Chamin)
- Chez-Badin (Chez Badin)
- Le Clos-Neuf (Clou Neuf)
- La Ferrère (La Ferrera)
- La Léchère
- Plan-de-Veyne (Plan de Veyne)
- Pouillayes
- Prarayer
- Propéraz (Propera)
Within the boundaries of the commune there are also three rifugi (mountain huts) which provide accommodation for climbers:
- Rifugio Prarayer - 2,005 metres (6,578 ft)
- Rifugio Aosta - 2,788 metres (9,147 ft)
- Rifugio Nacamuli al Col Collon - 2,818 metres (9,245 ft)
Notes
- "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- The expression comune sparso means a comune whose administrative centre is located in a hamlet whose name does not coincide with the name of the comune itself.
- Les Ley (Ley) is named in the statute as Ly
- Les Rus (Ru) is named in the statute as Rû
See also
References
- Ministero dell’Interno (2002), Statuto del Comune di Bionaz (PDF).
- Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta (11 January 2005), Bollettino Ufficiale della Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2005