The Great St Bernard lake
A pass lake just across the border
The Great St Bernard lake lies at the top of the pass, at almost 2,450 metres. You reach it from the Aosta Valley by the road through Étroubles and Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses. The lake itself is on the Swiss side, a few steps from the border, right next to the hospice.
A place of passage
The pass is one of the oldest crossings of the Alps. The Romans already used it to link Aosta with the Valais. In the 11th century Saint Bernard of Menthon founded a hospice there to shelter travellers. The canons still live there today.
When to go
The pass road is open only in summer, usually from June to October, depending on snow. The rest of the year the lake is frozen and snow-covered. The Great St Bernard tunnel lets you cross into Switzerland all year round.
Main photo : Personal photo by Marc Badjou.
Maps: personal work by Marc Badjou.
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