The pass has been used as a transit route since the Bronze Age and was a significant path for the Roman Empire.
Napoleon Bonaparte led approximately 40,000 troops across this pass in 1800 during his campaign in Italy.
The Saint Bernard dog breed was developed by monks at the hospice, originally for guard duties and later for alpine rescues.
The summit lake sits directly on the border, with the northern shore in Switzerland and the southern shore in Italy.
The hospice features a neoclassical church and a dedicated museum exhibiting Roman artifacts found on-site.
The pass served as a crucial pilgrimage route known as the Via Francigena connecting Canterbury to Rome.
Due to the high altitude, the pass is usually blocked by snow and impassable by car from October to June.
The maximum elevation of the pass is 2,469 meters above sea level.
The Great St Bernard Pass is a high mountain road crossing the Alps between the Swiss canton of Valais and the Italian Aosta Valley. It reaches an elevation of 2,469 meters, making it one of the highest road passes in Switzerland. At the summit sits the Great St Bernard Lake, which remains frozen for much of the year. The pass is home to the Great St Bernard Hospice, a historic institution founded in the 11th century to provide shelter for travelers. The site marks the historic border crossing between Switzerland and Italy. Visitors can view the hospice’s dog kennels, which historically housed the famous rescue dogs of the pass. The road is characterized by sharp hairpin turns and significant elevation changes on both the north and south approaches. The pass remains snow-covered during winter months, restricting vehicular access. It functions as a key geographical divide between the Pennine Alps.
The southern shore of the lake looking back toward the hospice building.
Bring a windproof jacket as temperatures at the summit are significantly lower than in the valleys.
Check road conditions online before driving, as sudden snowfalls can occur even in early summer.
Park in designated areas and walk to the lake shore to avoid obstructing through traffic.
Attempting the drive in a vehicle without adequate engine braking, as the steep descent causes brake overheating.
Open only in summer months; typically closed from late autumn through early summer due to heavy snowfall.
Respect the silence of the hospice grounds; keep dogs on a leash near the working kennels.
