Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R116
Bourg-St-Pierre » Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard
4h30 |
12.5 km
|
940 m
|
85 m
Take the gentle climb from Bourg-St-Pierre up the valley. Passing the right-hand bank of the Toules lake, the old mule trail takes you to the Grand St-Bernard pass, the stage destination, with its extraordinary dog breeding centre.
Leave Bourg-St-Pierre and head southward, immediately crossing a bridge over the Valsorey stream. The trail leads through woods and across meadows on the right-hand side of the mountain up to the reservoir wall of the Toules lake. Follow the right-hand bank to reach the Sur le Four stables. At the end of the lake, follow the little La Dranse stream to come to the old pass road, where heavy goods traffic turns off into the Grand St. Bernard tunnel. Unlike the pass road, the hiking trail follows the right-hand side of the valley. Near L'Hospitalet, cross the pass road and follow the mule track above the pass road. At the second ventilation shaft, which is situated right in the middle of the tunnel, the trial leads through the Combe des Morts scarp to the hospice. The hospice on the Grand St. Bernhard is one of the most famous and traditional monasteries in the Alps. The austere, rather gloomy group of buildings is situated in an impressive rock desert. Inside you will find the mummified bodies of people who died in accidents on the pass. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Natural and cultural heritage
Grand St. Bernard The hospice on the Grand St. Bernard pass is one of the most famous and traditional monasteries in the Alps. The pass over Mount Joux, as it once was called, was already used in prehistoric times. Julius Caesar crossed the pass with one of his legions in 58 B.C. In the middle of the 11th century, Saint Bernard of Aosta founded a hospice, which has been inhabited since the 12th century. In the Middle Ages, towards the end of the 14th century, the pass was one of the most important connections for crossing the Alps. In May 1800, a 40,000 strong army under Napoleon Bonaparte crossed it to reach the plains of Northern Italy. In 1905, a road viable for coaches was opened and finally in 1958 an international agreement was signed between Italy and Switzerland. In 1964, the first cross-alpine road tunnel in Europe was opened: the Grand St. Bernard tunnel. Since then, over 16 million vehicles have driven through it. The dogs of the hospice are just as famous as the hospice itself. They were written about and also drawn for the first time over 300 years ago. Over the past centuries, they have saved the lives of countless people who had lost their way on the pass crossing in snow and mist, and led them safely to the hospice. Two museums provide an insight into the history of the hospice: the hospice museum with its ancient Roman objects, sculptures, inscriptions, coins, and also a collection of minerals and insects from the region; and the church treasure museum displaying relics, manuscripts, a Byzantine cross, etc.
Du Léman à Sion / André Beerli ~ Editions Ketty & Alexandre (ISBN 2-88114-026-2)
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Comments
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Socrate Georgiades - 2019-09-06
Surpris par l'orage avant d'atteindre le col du grand saint bernard et son hospice, j'ai trouvé refuge dans une cabane non loin de la route sur laquelle est écrit SOS. Je fus surpris le lendemain en visitant le musée et visionnant un vieux documentaire de voir que la cabane où j'avais dormi existait en 1936 et que les moines s'y rendaient pour secourir les voyageurs.
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Surprised by the storm before reaching the pass of the great saint Bernard and his hospice, I found refuge in a cabin not far from the road on which is written SOS. I was surprised the next day by visiting the museum and watching an old documentary to see that the cabin where I slept existed in 1936 and that the monks went there to rescue travelers.
Elisabeth - 2015-10-14
On suit la rive gauche du lac de Toule (sens orographique), pas la rive droite.
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It follows the left bank of Lake Toule (orographic sense), not the right bank.
There is an Auberge and opposite is the Hospice. The Auberge is meant for tourists and the Hospice for pilgrims and hikers. The charge for the hospice is CHF 48 and includes 2 meals and 4 religious services, which are not obligatory. You can skip the museum (CHF 10) which contain some sleepy dogs and common artifacts, but be sure to visit the treasury (free)! The dogs by the way, are evacuated to the valley in winter nowadays...
We really enjoyed the welcome at the Hospice. A bowl of soup, a plate of cheese, four types of ham and herb flavoured sausage have never tasted so good. The monk who welcomed us was friendly, and even though we arrived after dinner had officially finished we were offered as much food as we could eat.
Mountain Girl - 2014-08-18
Follow Trail # 70 to the Pass, which remains to the right of the highway and the river for 2/3rds of the hike.
Regarding the Hospice, I totally agree with Thierry M. It's clean, comfortable and a good value. Despite an icy wind that raged outside, the monastery's meter-thick walls kept things cozy indoors. I received a warm welcome and stayed in a 4-bed room. The bed was more comfortable than many an auberge I've visited, where the mattresses haven't been changed since the deGaulle era. I couldn't have been more pleased with my stay here.
CHF 60 with dinner and breakfast.
The accomodation at the Col du Grand St Bernard is only for walking persons (no need to book there will always a bed for a tired hiker or pilgrim). Thanks to them to keep it open..even if you only have a bol of hot soup for dinner...It is a great place to stop by. great value for money for Swiss standard 40CHF for B&B + dinner is really cheap.. (super clean and comfortable dormitories)
Cannot believe what Tippel writes about the Hospice..Please go to the hospice and share the meal with Via Francigena pilgrims if you get lucky may be some Chanoine will join..that's is priceless...
There is an open shelter called Le tronchet , 30mins down towards Bourg st pierre at 2290m
Tippel - 2011-07-30
Das Preis-/Leistungsverhältnis im Hospiz Gr.St.Bernard stimmt nicht - besser im Hotel buchen. Es liegt direkt neben dem Hospiz.
(Das Nachtessen war das Liebloseste und Schlechteste, was wir auf der bisherigen Wanderung bekommen haben.)
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The value for money in the hospice Gr.St.Bernard wrong - better book at the hotel. It is adjacent to the hospice.
(The dinner the spiteful and worst that we have received on the previous hike was.)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.