Ding dong …

Bourg-St-Pierre is the gateway to Italy and last village before the Great St. Bernhard Pass and the tunnel (to Italy). The village’s history is dominated by the pass crossing: armies crossed the Great St. Bernhard as early as the 3rd century BC. Saint Bernard of Menthon founded the monastery and hospice at the pass summit in the 11th century, paving the way for what became an imposing and austere building of great importance to travellers.
The renowned St. Bernhard dogs are bred here, the most famous of them being the legendary Barry, said to have saved the lives of 40 travellers in distress on the snowbound pass between 1800 and 1812.
Napoleon and the boys, thousands of them, camped here - well Napoleon did not camp as such. In the town hall, on the wall, is pinned the IOU for 40000 francs, still owing for the fondu and Fendant.
A bit of a climb today, up the gorgeous valley of the Dranse catchment through pine and spruce forests and across meadows with cows wearing bells creating a quaint soporific soundscape.
New besties, Frederick and Chris from Belgium. Not only did they help with the menu but also finishing two bowls of fondue, the local specialty, and a bottle of Valais Fendant and solved a few global problems at the same time.
Tomorrow, the Great St Bernard’s Pass and Italy.Read more