Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard
The Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard is a historic monastery and refuge located at the summit of the Great St Bernard Pass (2,469 m) on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Founded in 1050 by Saint Bernard of Menthon, it was established to rescue and shelter travellers crossing this treacherous Alpine route. Today, the hospice remains a place of spiritual and humanitarian hospitality, run by a community of Augustinian canons who welcome hikers, pilgrims, and tourists year-round. It is famously the birthplace of the Saint Bernard dog, originally bred by the monks for mountain rescue. The dogs are exercised on the local trails during the summer. The pass road is typically open from June to mid-October. In winter, the hospice is only accessible by ski-touring or snowshoes from Bourg-Saint-Bernard (approx. 2 hours). Even in summer, temperatures remain cool and snow can fall at any time. The lake at the pass is frozen for an average of 265 days a year. Elevation: 2,469 metres (8,100 ft) Museum Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily Dogs Presence: June to September at the Pass; year-round at Barryland in Martigny Facilities: Restaurant, gift shop, church, museum, parking, Wi-Fi (limited in some rooms)
