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Intro

Nestled in the foothills of Mont Blanc is the Pays du Saint Bernard, the gateway to Italy. The legendary Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard and its dogs symbolise the welcome and human warmth perpetuated over centuries by the Canons of the Grand Saint Bernard.

Description

A mountainous region, it allies the pleasures of both winter and summer sports with the gourmet delights of local produce. With four small resorts in superb, protected natural landscapes, this beautiful region offers the very best of mountain holidays.

Champex-Lac is a resort sometimes compared to those in Canada, with its alpine lake at the foot of the Breya and Catogne mountains. A peaceful village with a wide variety of high quality accommodation, this is an ideal spot to enjoy superbly memorable holidays.

La Fouly/Val Ferret: Val Ferret climbs from the town of Orsières up towards Italy, culminating in the Grand Col Ferret, one of the summits of the Tour du Mont-Blanc trek. Wild and enchanting, it proclaims the alpine landscape in all its true majesty.

Liddes/vichères: In the Val d’Entremont, in the direction of Grand Saint Bernard, this tiny yet easily accessible village borders a vast, protected natural area famous for its fauna and particularly the belling of the stag in autumn. Stage of the Via Francigena.

Bourg-St-Pierre is the last village before the Great Saint Bernard Pass (Col du Grand Saint Bernard). Steeped in history, this ancient village has witnessed the passage of innumerable travellers, including Napoleon himself.

Orsières is the administrative centre of the district of the same name. In addition to its architectural heritage and thirteenth century bell-tower, this village is the ideal base for all the region’s resorts and for numerous excursions.

Winter

In winter the Pays du Saint Bernard combines six resorts under a single umbrella, with our four ski resorts comprising around 100 kilometres of marked trails. Take a guide and go snow hiking or powder skiing. The Pays du Saint Bernard boasts the largest network of marked snowshoe trails in the whole of Switzerland. Everyone, at whatever level of skill, can discover nature for themselves thanks to these trails and mountains.

Summer

Summer in the Pays du Saint Bernard affords the perfect opportunity for hiking, with over four hundred kilometres of marked trails and three major treks – Mont Blanc, Saint Bernard and Combins – not forgetting the Via Francigena, the historic pilgrim route suitable for the whole family to enjoy.

At every turn there is something new to be discovered: the renowned ‘fromage à raclette’ – a cheese produced in the high mountain pastures, ‘aventure sur la paille’ (sleeping in the straw), the proud Herens cattle commonly used in local fighting contests, or even spending the night in one of our mountain-top cabins... not to mention all the nautical activities on offer on the lake or our world-famous dogs and thousand-year-old hospice. The whole mountain is alive with wonderful surprises such as the Rap Jump.

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Overview
Pays du Saint-Bernard
Valais
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Experiences & Activities

Hotels

  • Orsières, Valais Montagne Alternative (Swiss Lodge)

    Recommended by Switzerland Tourism
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  • Orsières, Valais Hôtel Terminus

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  • Champex-Lac, Valais Hôtel Au Vieux-Champex

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  • Champex-Lac, Valais Hôtel du Glacier 3 Stars

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  • Bourg-St-Pierre, Valais Hôtel Bivouac Napoléon

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  • La Fouly, Valais Hôtel des Glaciers

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Travel information: Pays du Saint-Bernard