Great Saint Bernard Pass

ancient Mons Jovis

Pass in the Alps.

One of the highest of the Alpine frontier passes, at 8,100 ft (2,469 m), it lies on the Italian-Swiss border east of the Mont Blanc group and connects Valais, Switz., with Aosta, Italy. Historically the most important trans-Alpine route, it was often used by pilgrims to Rome and later by medieval armies. In 1800 it was crossed by Napoleon and his 40,000 troops on their way to northern Italy. A famous hospice on the pass, founded by St. Bernard of Menthon in the 11th century, is still kept by Augustinian monks who, with their St. Bernard dogs, provide services to travelers. The old road, open only five months a year, has been partly superseded by a tunnel beneath the pass, which allows year-round travel.

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▪ mountain pass, Europe

Italian  Colle del Gran San Bernardo,  French  Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard 

 one of the highest of the Alpine frontier passes, at 8,100 feet (2,469 metres). It lies on the Italian-Swiss border east of the Mont Blanc (Blanc, Mont) group in the southwestern Pennine Alps. The pass connects Martigny-Ville, Switzerland (24 miles [39 km] north-northwest), in the Rhône River valley, with Aosta, Italy (21 miles [34 km] southeast).

      A road through the pass was not mentioned until AD 69, when the military arrangement of the Roman province of Germania rendered its construction desirable. Remains of this road, about 12 feet (3.7 metres) in width, are still visible, cut into the rock near the lake that lies at the summit of the pass. The temple of Jupiter Poeninus once stood on the summit. Even though the pass was open for only five months a year and was accessible only by foot, it was historically the most important trans-Alpine route and was used by Napoleon and his 40,000 troops in 1800.

      A famous hospice on the pass, founded by St. Bernard in the 11th century, still provides a resting place and rescue services to travelers, though helicopter rescue and a new road have diminished the hospice's role. The old road (1823) has been partly superseded by a tunnel 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long (completed 1964) beneath the pass, which allows year-round travel and shortens the travel time between Martigny and Aosta by an hour.

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