Lake Place Moulin: the turquoise mirror that deceives the heart of the mountain

Who would have thought that human ingenuity could create a jewel so perfect that it tricks nature itself into believing it has always guarded it in its arms? Lake Place Moulin is this marvelous lie that only reveals itself when you approach its imposing dam, but until then appears as a blue miracle set in the wild heart of the Valpelline valley.

The water here has a color that defies all logic: an intense, deep turquoise that seems to have stolen the purest shade of the summer sky and mixed it with ancient glacier dust. When the morning sun caresses this surface, smooth as silk, every ripple becomes a liquid diamond that dances hypnotically toward the shore, creating a visual concert that captures the gaze and never lets it go.

The walk along the banks is a balm for the soul: your feet sink gently into the soft ground covered with golden pine needles, while the fresh, clean air carries the penetrating aroma of rhododendrons that transform the slopes into shocking pink carpets in summer. The muffled silence is broken only by the gentle gurgling of the water lapping the smooth stones and the melodious whistle of the marmots curiously observing from afar.

Lifting your eyes from this enchanted mirror, the spectacle becomes even more breathtaking: the peaks of the Grand Combin stand like sentinels of stone and ice, with shimmering seracs that catch the light, creating blinding reflections. Every sharp summit tells stories of brave mountaineers and fierce storms, while the grey moraines draw mysterious arabesques on the mountain slopes.

Toward evening, when the lake transforms into a golden mirror reflecting pink clouds and fiery peaks, the magic reaches its climax. It is in these moments that Place Moulin reveals its secret soul: that of being a bridge suspended between the creative power of man and the eternal beauty of the Alps.

How to Reach the Lake

• Access: From Aosta, take the regional road to Valpelline ($25\text{ km}$), passing through picturesque alpine villages. Continue to the free parking lot at Place Moulin, located right next to the dam. The paved road ends here but is accessible with any car.
• Best Time: May–October for the perimeter walk (2 hours, easy).
• Trails: Marked trails start from the lake towards the Rifugio Prarayer (3 hours, medium difficulty).
• Amenities: Equipped picnic area, public restrooms, and informational panels on alpine flora.

Photo credits: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר - licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.