Discover the St. Bernard Region

Regions · October 10, 2024

Anyone riding the bus through the Val d'Entremont for the first time understands why some people simply stay in the valley and never want to leave. Jagged rock faces, tight curves, a village every few kilometres – and then suddenly that vast open space at the pass. The region does something to you.

Bourg-Saint-Pierre is the village where we host our guests. Fewer than 200 inhabitants, an old church, a handful of houses. Arriving with expectations shaped by resort holidays, you might be surprised at first. Stay a day, and you'll quickly realise: this is exactly right.

Five minutes away is Liddes – where our Daycamp takes place. Children learn a language, play outside, climb, sing. Parents have the morning to themselves: hiking, working, or simply lying in an alpine meadow looking up at the sky.

Arriving in another world

In summer, mountain lakes invite you to swim and picnic. The water temperatures are refreshing, but quite pleasant on warm days. Don't forget to pack towels and swimwear!

Our hostel in the St. Bernard region is the ideal starting point. From here you can easily reach all the highlights. In the evening, you can end the day with a regional cheese fondue.

The Val Ferret on the Swiss side of the pass is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Alps — and surprisingly little known. Here you walk between mighty glaciers and blooming alpine meadows without crowds. Those who wish can walk the length of the valley to the Italian border and take the bus back.

History, nature and food

The pass itself has a history that captivates children. Humans have been crossing this mountain for thousands of years — Romans, pilgrims, Napoleon with his army. The hospice at the summit has existed since the 11th century. For children who usually find history boring, the past suddenly becomes vivid here.

The regional cuisine deserves special mention. Walliser raclette, locally raised beef, apricots from Fully — anyone who has eaten well in Valais understands why Swiss cuisine is more than fondue. At the hostel we love cooking with you and showing you where to find the best local produce.

Getting there: by train from Geneva to Martigny, then by bus through Val d'Entremont. The journey itself is an experience — vineyards, narrow gorges, mountain villages. For children, we recommend choosing a seat on the left side of the bus so as not to miss the spectacular valley view.

Practical tips for your visit

Those who holiday in the region around the Great Saint Bernard almost always return. Not because it's perfect — sometimes it's windy, sometimes it rains, sometimes the pass road is closed. But because the place has something hard to describe: a stillness and vastness you look for elsewhere and rarely find.