Grosser Sankt Bernhard, Switzerland
Grosser Sankt Bernhard, Switzerland

Photo by Valais Wallis Promotion David Carlier

15°C

Open, no restrictions

Bourg-St-Pierre - national border

 


Updated on: 06.06.2025, 12:02

History

(Col du Gd-Saint-Bernard; Colle del Gran San Bernardo)

Artifacts found along the northern approach to the Gt. St. Bernhard Pass prove that the pass was used in the early iron ages, making it one of the oldest alpine traverses. The pass was used as a connecting axis between Gallien and the Rhine River as  Julius Caesar mentions in his «De bello Gallico». The pass was widened for wagons under the rule of Emperor Claudius (54 a.d). Compared to the other passes that were also used by the Romans there were no difficult gorges and cliffs that had to be passes.

Traders, dignitaries & crusaders all used the pass during the middle ages and it was at this time that it became increasingly used by pilgrims travelling from France to Rome, as substantiated by a journel by the Archbishop Sigerich 1st of Canterbury (d. 994 a.d.).  

During Roman times, a tempel revering Poeninus stood at the top of the pass and  Bernhard von Menthon , Archdiakon from Aosta had a hospiz built nearby in 1050 a.d. to protect all travellers. Von Menthon was made holy and the Mt. St. Bernard Pass was named after him in the 13th century. The Earls and Dukes of Savoyen generously supported the hospiz and it was eventually taken over by the Augustinian canons. The Augustinians were known and appreciated for their hospitality over hundreds of years. In more recent times the St. Bernhard became famous for breeding St. Bernhard dogs.

The international transit trade began in the 13th century and lead to the development and economical prosperity of the villages and towns along the route. Sembrancher, Bourg-Saint-Pierre, La Cantine de Proz were known as points of goods transfer and the wares were taken over the pass on all sorts of vehicles by the locals. Road taxes and duty were collected at certain points along the way until 1808. Construction of the Mont-Cenis pass in 1803 meant direct competition for traders over the Gr. St. Bernhard, but the Gr. St. Bernhard was politically more important and brought prosperity to the canton of Valais over many hundreds of years. The pass was also of strategic military importance from the 17th century and Napoleon crossed the pass in 1800 a.d. with over 30,000 soldiers to begin battle in the Lombardy. In 1906, the border between Switzerland and Italy was finally regulated. The canon Laurent Joseph Murith («Guide du botaniste qui voyage dans le Valais», 1810) recognised the importance of the pass for explorers and researchers and financed the meteorological and geological findings of Horace Bénédict de Saussure.

The district of Valais began constructing the pass road in 1839 and the Swiss side was completed in 1893 – the Italian side not until 1905. The idea of a tunnel under the Col de Menouve, which could be open summer and winter, was already touted in the 19th century and the Valais cantonal government granted permission to build such a tunnel in 1938. Violent opposition from Swiss federal authorities, Simplon supporters and the SBB delayed construction begin until 1958. Europe‘s first underground alpine road tunnel was opened  on 13 April 1964. Passenger and goods transport increased continually. The opening of the Gotthard Tunnel reduced the importance of the Gr. St. Bernhard. The best known «face» of the Gr. St. Bernhard still remains that of «Barry» - the St. Bernhard dog with the schnapps bottle tied around his neck. 

Closed time during winter: Opening / Closing Grosser Sankt Bernhard

Pass/Year 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
Grosser Sankt Bernhard
13.06. -
14.10.
01.06. -
16.10.
31.05. -
17.10.
04.06. -
18.10.
29.05. -
12.10.
03.06. -
14.10.
05.06. -
15.10.
30.05. -
04.11.
03.06. -
17.10.
05.06. -
19.10.

Technical Data

South37 kmAosta (591 m.a.s.l.)6.2%5.9%2469 m.a.s.l.Bourg St Pierre (1632 m.a.s.l.)North7 km
Cantons
Regione Valle d'Aosta (Italien), Wallis (VS) Schweiz
Distance
44 Km
Vertex
2469 m.a.s.l.
Max. gradient
11 %
Passable
Winter closure (Oct/May)
Road expansion
Driveway
Restaurant
yes

Location

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Signalisation

Standort: Bourg St. Bernard

Bourg St Bernard - Landesgrenze
- Höchstgewicht 28 t
- Verbot für schwere Motorfahrzeuge. Ausgenommen sind Lieferungen zum Hospiz

Standort: St. Rhémy (Italien)

Passes

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