Great St Bernard

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At 2500m, the Great Saint Bernard connects the Rhone Valley with the Italian Aosta Valley and the Italian Piedmont. In Roman times a temple stood on the pass. The alpine crossing was a significant stretch of the pilgrim routes between north and south. The Augustine monks raised not only rescue dogs on the pass; they also welcomed travellers in their hospice.

The villages in the Pays du Saint Bernard are rich in history, and its mountainous surroundings have a surprisingly large number of wild nature preserves – perfect for summer and winter sports enthusiasts.

This destination is a perfect place for

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  • Snow sports

Activities

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Great St. Bernard Pass, Pass Saint-Bernard, Summer in Valais, Switzerland
Mobility

PASS Saint-Bernard

The various versions of the PASS Saint-Bernard offer a choice of annual, seasonal or daily flat-rates for over 15 leisure activities in summer and winter, as well as free use of public transport and ski lifts throughout the Pays du Saint-Bernard destination. Enjoy free travel on public transport from Orsières to Champex, La Fouly, Bourg-Saint-Pierre and Great St Bernard.

Mobility
Saint-Bernard dog, Barry, Valais
St Bernard dogs

Great St Bernard Pass

Great St Bernard hospice, 2,469 metres above sea level, was built in the 11th century in order to provide sanctuary for travellers and pilgrims. Starting in the mid-17th century, the monks there would keep large dogs as guards and escorts. The presence of these dogs in the Hospice is attested by documents from the year 1695, as well as by a memo in the Hospice's records from the year 1707. Before long, the dogs were also being used to escort travellers and to find and rescue people who were lost in the snow and fog. Today, the Barry Foundation's principal breeding station is located in Martigny. In the summer, however, some of the dogs spend time at their original home in the Great St Bernard Pass.

St Bernard dogs
Rafting, Valais, Switzerland
Water sports

Valrafting

Valrafting and its team welcome you to its water sports center in Visp, ideal starting point for rafting, kayaking, canyoning or even hydrospeed on the most beautiful courses in Valais. You will be equipped, transported and accompanied by one of our experienced river guides for the activity and course of your choice. The adventure begins whenever you want!

Water sports
Saint-Bernard Tour
Hiking Tours

Saint-Bernard Tour

On this hike, you leave civilisation behind at Combe de Drône, climb up to the Chevaux pass, follow a historic path to cross the Saint-Rémy pass into Italy, cross the Malatra pass and enjoy the stunning view of Mont-Blanc, admire the edelweiss, stroll in the Combe de l’A nature reserve watching the chamois and ibex, climb Mont Rogneux at 3,032 metres, the high point of our itinerary, admire the alpine mountains – the Valais and Bernese Alps, the Jura ridge and Mont-Blanc –, pass through Bourg-St-Pierre, walk along the Toules dam, descend through fields of flowers and return to the Grand-St-Bernard hospice.

Hiking Tours