Great St. Bernard Pass – High-Altitude Heritage & Timeless Elegance

The Art of Traversing the Mountains: Architecture Born from Passage

Between Le Biolley and Orsières, the valley reveals its noblest soul: that of villages shaped by the ancestral passage to the Great St. Bernard Pass. Here, every stone tells the story of human determination to inhabit high altitudes, to welcome travelers, and to engage with the mountains.

Compact houses with thick walls, topped with heavy slate roofs, stand like timeless guardians. Granaries on stilts, protective oratories, paved passages, and dry stone walls form a heritage that is both humble and majestic — a true manifesto of Alpine sobriety, born of necessity, refined by centuries.

This territory is home to the routes of great journeys: pilgrims, peddlers, armies, shepherds, and merchants have shaped paths and villages with their passage. A culture of welcome and resilience, inherited notably from the millennia-old Great St. Bernard Hospice, still permeates every hamlet, every gaze directed towards the pass.

Architectural Signatures to Admire

• Stone-Fortified Houses: compact silhouettes, small openings, massive slate roofs defying wind and snow.
• Traditional Granaries and Barns: stone bases, wooden upper floors, narrow balconies for drying — the very essence of Alpine life.
• Terraces Carved into the Mountain: dry stone, paved alleys, ancient staircases traced by centuries.
• Chapels and Oratories: spiritual and protective stops for those ascending to the pass.

Paths of History & Pass Culture

The Via Francigena and ancient mule tracks still wind between villages and meadows, vibrant witnesses to a living heritage. Here, one walks in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims, guided by chapels, retaining walls, and traces of Alpine craftsmanship.

Higher up, the military heritage blends into the rock: underground structures and discreet forts, including that of Champex-Lac, offer a rare insight into mountain strategy — raw, silent, masterful.

Exploration Routes

• Villages & Terraces of Orsières (approx. 1h30–2h)
A heritage stroll through alleys, low walls, oratories, and stone houses.

• In the Footsteps of Pilgrims (2–3h)
Segment of the Via Francigena towards Bourg-St-Pierre – history, spirituality, and open views.

• Military Heritage & Alpine Terrain (depending on opening hours)
Visit the Champex fort to understand the defensive architecture carved into the mountain.

When to Go & Tips

All year round.
From April to October to enjoy the most complete routes, golden light in autumn, crystalline atmosphere in winter.

Sturdy shoes, windbreaker, respect for hamlets, dedicated trails in inhabited areas — to preserve a heritage as precious as it is alive.

A Journey through Time, to the Rhythm of Stone

Here, the mountain is not merely traversed — it is honored.
Walking these paths is to experience a silent elegance, where architecture and nature respond to each other.
A rare, authentic, unchanging experience.

Combine With

Heritage morning, afternoon hikes in Champex-Lac & Val Ferret, then return to tranquility in our lodges.