Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R117
Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard » Cérellaz
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9h50 |
26.855 km
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612 m
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1562 m
The Via Alpina trail crosses into Italy over the Grand St-Bernard pass and winds along a large number of broad pastures and woodland to the Citrin pass, on the opposite side of the Gran San Bernardo valley. The alpine landscape continues to the valley of Vertosan and the Joux pass, from where there are views of Mount Emilius, the Gran Paradiso range and the Rutor peak.
From Switzerland, the trail crosses into Italy and the signs show yellow numbers in a yellow circle. From the Gran San Bernardo pass, it leads gently down through broad pastures to the hamlet of Maison de Réfuge, at 2213m of altitude. From here, the trail commands splendid views over the Gran San Bernardo valley as it leads to Saint-Rhémy en Bosses. This is the same route as that followed by the Tour des Combins (yellow rhombus marked TDC in black letters) and the town is also the end of an Alta Via no. 1 trail stage. From Saint-Rhémy en Bosses, the trail leads down to the village of Saint-Léonard, along a farm road. This is the halfway point of the stage and it is possible to break here for the night. At Saint-Léonard, near the church, the trail begins again, marked 9, and leads to the hamlet of Cerisey. From here follow trail no.8 to the Citrin Desot hut, and then through pastures and some dense woods to the Citrin de Meiten hut. Past these, the trail leads through a long valley with broad pastures to the Citrin pass (2481m). The views here are of the broad valley of Vertosan and the trail (no.10) heads steeply downwards, crosses the Sorace pasture and hits the Vertosan stream. It then follows the course of the river to the pastures of Rovine. From here, there is a farm road to Or di Jovençan and Jovençan (1866m). During the summer months there is a restaurant here, serving typical local dishes. Follow the trail along a plateau to the pastures at Maisonettes and on to the Joux pass (1823m) from just below which it is possible to see the small artificial lake. A trail begins just past the lake and it leads directly down into Vens. It is also possible to follow the old mining trail (no.30A) which also leads to Vens. The walker can either stop here for the night or go on along a track (no. 18) through the villages of Cerlogne and Coudray to the village of Cerellaz. (Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta)
Natural and cultural heritage
The Great Saint Bernard pass is a fascinating place, rich in history. From when the hospice was built in 1050, pilgrims, merchants and armies have passes through here. The current structure dates from 1825 and many an illustrious personality has stayed in its rooms: Henry IV, on his way to Canossa, Frederic Barbarossa, and Napoleon, with his army of 50.000 soldiers, on their way to Marengo where he defeated the Austro-Piedmontese troops. A road leads to the pass. At the time of the Celts it was a mere dirt track. It became a major artery at the time of the Romans and was paved. As such it continued to be used throughout the middle ages. It became a bridleway and was finally upgraded to a road in 1900. The monks still host trippers and tourists who transit through here. There is a Baroque church and a library containing over 30 thousand volumes. From here, rolling pastures and conifer woods lead gently down to Saint-Rhémy en Bosses (1619 m). Saint-Rhémy en Bosses is the last administrative area in Aosta Valley before the Swiss border. It was inhabited all year round since the time of the Salassi, a celtic tribe that dominated the area before the Romans. In Roman times a mansio, an inn for travellers, was built there. The area is famous for the local speciality Jambon de Bosses, a ham that is treated with aromatic mountain herbs and, thanks to the unusual microclimate (windy and dry), takes on an unusual and unmistakable flavour. The product received a Designation of Origin in 2003, during the Jambon de Bosses annual festival that takes place in the first half of July. The first stopping point of the stage is Vens in the Saint-Nicolas area. The church of Vens is at the entrance to the village, which is a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways. There are many houses made of stone, in the typical style of Aosta Valley. If one is being renovated you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the traditional oven and milk store. At Saint-Nicolas is the Centre for Franco-provençal Studies, housed in a fully-renovated 18th century building. There is also a Museum devoted to Jean-Baptiste Cerlogne, the first poet to write in the dialect of Aosta Valley, born in Cerlogne in 1826. In addition to his writing he also produced a small grammar book and dictionary of the franco-provençal dialect. The second stop is Cerellaz, in the Avise area, a typical mountain village. It has a small church, an oven and a milk store and stunning views of Mont Blanc. There are two important events on the local calendar: at the end of June is the festival of the Fiocca (whipped cream) in the village of Beilun, and on the first Sunday in August there is the spectacular Bataille des Reines (a tussle between pregnant cows) in the Vertosan valley. (Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta)
Useful topographic maps
Carte dei sentieri n° 5 e n° 2 ~ L'Escursionista editore (www.escursionista.it) (1:25.000)
282T Martigny ~ Swisstopo (1:50.000)
Useful guidebooks
Guida n° 5-Gran San Bernardo, Valpelline e conca del Fallère ~ Le Guide dell'Escursionista (ISBN )
Picture gallery
Add your own pictures!
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.
Houdayer Alain - 2022-09-07
Longue et belle étape jusqu'à Cerellaz ou l'hotel des Alpes est un magnifique point de chute.Trés bon accueil et trés bonne cuisine.
Socrate Georgiades - 2019-09-06
Surpris par les orages dans la montée vers le col Citrin, j'ai trouvé refuge dans de vieilles cabanes d'alpages à moitié détruites. Le lendemain matin, en cherchant à me protéger de la pluie, j'ai fait une pause à Jovençan à Lo Grand Baou,(http://www.lograndbaou.it/?post_projects=nostre-cuisine&lang=fr) une halte étonnante avec la meilleure polenta jamais mangée et aussi un excellent genepi blanc.
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Surprised by the storms in the climb to the Citrin pass, I found refuge in old alpine huts half destroyed. The next morning, trying to protect me from the rain, I took a break at Jovençan in Lo Grand Baou, (http://www.lograndbaou.it/?post_projects=nostre-cuisine&lang=en) an amazing stopping place with the best polenta ever eaten and also an excellent white genepi.
Berta - 2018-07-25
Wir haben in Cerellaz im Hotel des Alpes geschlafen ( Tel 016591117 ) sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit, ausgezeichnetes Essen und Preis- Leistung stimmt. Betten könnten etwas besser sein, aber für 1 Nacht durchaus ok. Doppelzimmer mit Halbpension 100 €. Auch in Vens gibt es eine Auberge mit einem sehr freundlichem Besitzer, Hotel Vagneur, Tel: 0039 016591248 oder 0039335433990.
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We slept in Cerellaz in the Hotel des Alpes (Tel 016591117) very friendly and helpful, excellent food and value for money. Beds could be a bit better, but ok for 1 night. Double room with half board 100 €. Also in Vens there is an auberge with a very friendly owner, Hotel Vagneur, Tel: 0039 016591248 or 0039335433990.
The trail from Col Citrin to Saint Leonard is not marked very well. A good idea is to stay east and walk north if you are in doubt. There is a great refuge called "Enoteca Enoetica" before Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard. Highly recommend!!
Nachtrag: Die Höhenangaben sind falsch. Aufstieg vom Talboden bei St-Léonard zum Col Citrin sind ca. 1100 Hm und nicht 612 Hm, wie im Wanderführer angegeben. Bitte korrigieren.
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Addendum: The altitude information is wrong. Ascent from the valley floor at St-Léonard to the Col Citrin are about 1100 Hm and not 612 Hm, as stated in the guide. Please correct.
Der GPS-Track ist sehr ungenau, von Maisonettes Neuves nach Vens sogar irreführend. Auch die Wegmarkierung ist nicht immer klar. Beim Col du Mont Joux bleibt man am besten immer auf dem Fahrsträsschen bis zum kleinen Joux-See und biegt dort rechts ab zu einer kleinen Kapelle. Hier führt der Weg steil hinab nach Vens, wo sich auch das Hotel Vagneur befindet.
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The GPS track is very inaccurate, from Maisonettes Neuves to Vens even misleading. Even the waymarking is not always clear. At the Col du Mont Joux it is best to stay on the road to the small Joux lake and turn right there to a small chapel. Here the path leads steeply down to Vens, where the Hotel Vagneur is located.
michel S - 2016-06-30
a 30 minutes du col cote italien il y a un oenoteca qui fait refuge tenu par une assoc d integration des jeunes. tres bon marche, bonne bieres et sympa
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30 minutes from the Italian col pass there is a refuge oenoteca run by a youth integration association. very cheap, good beers and nice
sanchez - 2016-06-30
A st Rhemy en Bosses il y a un hotel, l hotel Suisse, tenu par une italienne:
je vous le recommande chaudement
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At St Rhemy en Bosses there is a hotel, the hotel Switzerland, run by an Italian: I highly recommend it
sanchez - 2016-06-25
Jovençan un endroit très accueillant une cuisine exceptionnelle et un prix raisonnable pour les hikers de la VA
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Jovençan a very welcoming place with exceptional cuisine and a reasonable price for the hikers of the VA
Elisabeth - 2015-10-14
Il n'y a pas de ravitaillement à St-Rhémy-en-Bosse, mais à St-Léonard, à l'aire de service aménagée près de la station-service, en dehors du village.
Dénivelée : 924m et pas 612m (donc 1h de plus) - Le sentier n° 8 part de l'église de St-Leonard (logo VA) mais ensuite plus aucune indication jusqu'au col Citrin, malgré deux bifurcations... Le sentier entre Vens et Cérellaz n'est pas du tout entretenu. Il disparaît si bien que je l'ai perdu et suis arrivée à Charbonnière. A l'été 2015, sentier interdit entre Joux et Vens et entre Avise et Runaz (éboulements).
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There is no refueling in St-Rhémy-en-Bosse, but in St-Léonard, fitted to the service area near the gas station, outside the village. Vertical drop: 924m and 612m not (thus more 1h) - The route 8 from the church of St-Leonard (VA logo) but then no further indication to the Citrin pass, despite two bifurcations The trail ... Cerellaz between Vens and is not maintained at all. He disappears so I lost it and got to Charbonnière. In the summer of 2015, prohibits path between Joux and Vens and between Avise and Runaz (landslides).
I would rate the quality of the gps-track as 'bad'. From Vens to Cerellaz as 'useless'', also the road-markings are not too good. So be very careful here.
La Vieille Cloche (B&B) in St Leonard has only 3 rooms. For E 40 a good deal. A good restaurant near an ugly parking lot under a depressing looking viaduct -customs office. Once you get in it looks better, and they offer a really good 3 dish menu for E18. The money machine is in the lobby of the truckers-hotel above.
Travelling north to south, we found this a long stage. Around 2,300m of descent and 1,000m of up. Leaving the hospice, follow the road (or walk round the lake) until you see a path clearly signposted to the left. From there, the path was easy to follow, although the final GPX marker underestimated the distance to Cerellaz.
We really enjoyed staying in the Hotel des Alpes. The welcome was very friendly, the set menu started with Gnocchi followed by pork in a cheese sauce. The breakfast was a full continental with filter coffee. Including 0.5l of house wine and picnics the price was 112 Euro for two.
The downsides, the bed was quite thin, the bathroom quite small, and the room not well sound insulated from the bar below. However we would definitely stay there again for the quality of the food and the warm welcome.
Mountain Girl - 2014-08-18
The B&B in St Leonardo only accepts groups of 4-5 persons. I was forced to climb back uphill to the very top of the village in order to find a room at Hotel des Alpes; (they also have a dortoir).
About 4h hike from Cerellaz to Col Citrin, There are different possible trail to reach. Think I choose the best option towards Vedun by trail #18a. Check out my blog for maps of the area or ask Hotel des Alpes they have trails maps in that area. GPX file downloaded in June 2013 was not accurate
about 1h down from Col Citrin to reach Iron water stream which is potable and good to drink (Locals information)
Another hour to reach St Leonard.
B&B in St Leonard, restaurants too, Restaurant also in ST Rhemy...also accomodation if i recall correctly.
ST Rhemy is the meeting point with Via Francigena
St leonard - St Rhemy about 1h
40CHF for B&B at Col du grand St Bernard. Super clean and great bed.
If you want to save $ or want to meditate on your own, there is a comfortable free open refuge just down 30min at 2290m. Wood available, table, chairs, fireplace, blankets : great free accomodation called le Tronchet
Dom Lalot - 2013-09-01
On peut s'arrêter à Jovencan à l'auberge du grand baou. Elle est très belle. Il n'y a pas de dortoir mais la patronne était prête à faire un tarif pour les via-alpinistes. J'avais prévu de bivouaquer plus haut et je ne me suis pas arrêté.
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You can stop at the inn Jovencan great baou. She is very beautiful. There are no dorm but the owner was willing to make a price for via-mountaineers. I had planned to bivouac above and I did not stop.
Jean-Louis GIRAUD - 2013-05-20
Lors de cette longue étape, Il un habitant de Saint Léonard m'a indiqué la présence d'une petite source d'eau petillante...mais ferrugineuse, dans la montée du Col CITRIN a proximité du sentier. C'est une curiosité mais il ne faut pas compter s'y desalterer !
Au terme de la journée, j'ai fait étape dans le beau village de SAINT NICOLAS, au dessus de CERELLAZ.
Hotel VAGNEUR
Frazione VENS / 11010 SAINT NICOLAS.
Tel : 00 39 (0)165 91248
Cel : 00 39 335 433990
Email : info@hotelvagneur.com
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During this long stage, he a native of St. Leonard told me the presence of a small source of bubbly water ... but ferruginous, the climb of the Col CITRIN a nearby trail. It is a curiosity but do not expect there to slake his thirst! At the end of the day, I step in the beautiful village of Saint Nicolas, above Cerellaz. Hotel VAGNEUR Frazione VENS / 11010 SAINT NICOLAS. Tel: 00 39 (0) 165 91248 Cell: 00 39 335 4339 90 Email: info@hotelvagneur.com
Tippel - 2011-07-30
Um die lange Etappe abzukürzen, kann man das Postauto nehmen oder ein Taxi (Col -> St.Léonard 50 EUR für 2 Personen): Guido Letey +39 338 34 35 882 oder +39 338 35 31 650
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To cut a long stage, you can take the post bus or a taxi (Col -> St.Leonard EUR 50 for 2 people): Guido Letey +39338 34 35 882 or +39 338 35 31 650
Don't follow the red-white markers on the way up to Col Citrin. You'll find some of this markers after leaving Saint-Leonard. The markers in this area for the hiking path are painted in yellow with black digits on them.
When you reach a forking with several paths marked with the number 8 followed by a letter, take the path 8d to your right side.
|
9h50 |
26.855 km
|
612 m
|
1562 m
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.