Pays du Saint-Bernard
The Pays du Saint-Bernard is an authentic Alpine tourism region in the Swiss canton of Valais, centred on the historic Grand-Saint-Bernard pass route that links Switzerland with Italy's Aosta Valley. It is a rural, mountain destination made up of the villages and resorts of Orsières, Liddes-Vichères, Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Champex-Lac and La Fouly in the Val Ferret, surrounded by high peaks such as the Grand-Combin, the Dolent and the Mont-Blanc massif. The region is dominated by high mountains and deep valleys rather than a single large lake, although the alpine lake of Champex forms a scenic heart around the resort of Champex-Lac. It is rich in nature, with some of the largest forests in Switzerland, nature reserves and alpine pastures, and is crossed by the Via Francigena and the Tour du Mont-Blanc. The area is steeped in history, from its Roman-era pass and the thousand-year-old hospice to the Saint-Bernard dogs and the Grand-Saint-Bernard tunnel, while its villages keep strong terroir traditions alive. Orsières acts as the main gateway and hub of the region.
Summer activities
In summer the Pays du Saint-Bernard is a paradise for hikers and trail runners, with a dense network of marked trails, themed paths and mountain huts across the Val Ferret, the Val d'Arpette and the Grand-Saint-Bernard area, including stages of the Tour du Mont-Blanc and the Via Francigena. The alpine lake of Champex-Lac offers boating, pedalos and stand-up paddle, while the region is also a destination for mountain biking, e-biking, road cycling and gravel riding over passes such as the Col de Champex and the Grand-Saint-Bernard. Families can enjoy treasure hunts, the Charlotte la Marmotte themed trails, the suspended tree path at La Fouly, canyoning and the alpine botanical garden Flore-Alpe.
Winter activities
Winter in the Pays du Saint-Bernard centres on four ski areas — La Fouly, Champex-Lac, Vichères-Liddes and the small La Lorette lift at Bourg-Saint-Pierre — offering around 45 kilometres of pistes from 1,490 to 2,270 metres, with a strong family and freeride character. The region is also a renowned destination for ski touring, from the beginner rando-parc of Vichères to classic high-alpine routes such as the Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt and the Haute Route du Saint-Bernard. Cross-country skiers can use trails at Liddes, on the frozen lake of Champex and on the A Neuve plateau at La Fouly, while marked snowshoe and winter hiking trails cross the snowy forests and valleys. The frozen lake of Champex also becomes a natural skating rink.
Culture and entertainment
The Pays du Saint-Bernard is rich in heritage and culture, anchored by the thousand-year-old Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard and its museum and kennel of the famous Saint-Bernard dogs, as well as the historic pass route crossed by Napoleon. The region preserves many churches and chapels, old mills and the artillery forts of Champex-Lac and Commeire, while the alpine botanical garden Flore-Alpe at Champex-Lac is one of the richest in the Alps. Local traditions and terroir are celebrated through the Journées terroir et patrimoine, village festivals, the Désalpe at La Fouly and events such as the UTMB trail races that pass through the region.
