dossier-de-presse-en-2024-compressed

PRESS KIT
2024

CONTENTS
PAYS DU SAINT-BERNARD
An authentic alpine region
Map of villages
Key figures
St. Bernard dogs
WINTER ACTIVITIES
Winter in the great outdoors
Key figures
Map of the slopes
The PASS Saint-Bernard – Winter
The natural ice rink at Champex-Lac
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
A land of landscapes
Key figures
Hiking map
The PASS Saint-Bernard – Summer
The Via Francigena
Lacs de Fenêtre
CULTURAL HERITAGE
A region with a 1,000-year-old history
Key figures
The artillery fort at Champex-Lac
GASTRONOMY AND TERROIR
A taste of the peaks
Key figures
The Grand-Entremont gift hamper
ACCOMMODATION
From huts to luxury hotels
Key figures
The Alpine Club
A COLOURFUL CALENDAR
FURTHER INFORMATION
AND CONTACTS

PAYS DU
SAINT-BERNARD
AN AUTHENTIC
ALPINE REGION
In an exceptional and largely
unspoilt natural setting, the Pays du
St-Bernard is an open invitation to
discover a wide range of sporting
and cultural activities.
In summer, there's something for
every hiker, with cabins, lakes,
nature reserves, walks alongside St.
Bernard dogs or treks lasting several
days sure to keep our guests happy
until October, when our forests are
decked out in their brightest colours.
The summer months can also include
a visit to the museum and kennels
at the Hospice du Grand-St-Bernard,
one of the best-known in Valais, or
the Flore-Alpe botanical garden at
Champex-Lac, one of the most prestigious
in the Alps!
In winter, our charming resorts offer
ski and freeride slopes for all levels,
with breathtaking panoramic views,
cross-country ski trails in incredible
natural settings and snowshoe trails
in the heart of our snowy forests.
Proud of their region and their terroir
represented by the famous Corbeille
du Grand Entremont, the inhabitants
of the Pays du St-Bernard have kept
alive and well a wealth of traditions
that we look forward to sharing with
you.

MAP OF
THE VILLAGES

2,472m.
Altitude of the
Great Saint
Bernard hospice
1050
Year the hospice
was founded
3
Borders at the
summit of the
Dolent (France,
Italy, Switzerland)

4,314 m.
Height of the
Grand Combin
1
legendary dog
breed
3 rd
highest road pass
in Switzerland

ST.BERNARD
DOGS
St. Bernard dogs can be recognized
by their massive build and
reddish-brown and white coat.
St. Bernards are known for their
rescue instinct. Their exceptional
sense of smell and height make
them capable of detecting human
life even under several metres of
powder snow.
In 2005, the Barry Foundation
took over the famous St. Bernard
kennel. Since then, the foundation
has been the owner of the
world's oldest breeding facility of
the Swiss national dog. The Barry
Foundation was named after
"Barry", the legendary avalanche
dog. Its task is to continue the
more than 300-year-old breeding
facility at the St. Bernards place
of origin of and to preserve the
special features of the hospice
dogs.

WINTER
ACTIVITIES

THE WINTER
OF WIDE
OPEN SPACES
An unspoilt region far from the big
ski resorts, the Pays du St-Bernard
offers a wide range of activities with
ski areas perfect for learning to ski,
as well as beautiful cross-country ski
trails and fun activities such as the
seven-kilometre-long sledge run at
La Breya or the natural ice rink on the
frozen lake at Champex.
There’s plenty to keep ski touring fans
entertained with a marked excursion
park at Vichères, a nocturnal opening
of the run and the restaurant at La
Breya in Champex-lac and above all
40 ski touring itineraries leading to an
altitude of more than 4,000 metres or
to the French-Italian-Swiss border!

1
subscription for
all winter activities
46 km
pass for winter ski
run activities over
three ski areas from
1,490 to 2,270 m
above sea level
55
marked trails to
enjoy completely
safely

MAP OF THE SLOPES

PASS
SAINT-BERNARD
WINTER
Launched in 2016, the PASS
Saint-Bernard is an annual pass
which gives access to more
than 15 activities, including not
only ski areas and cross-country
trails but access to public transport
by bus from Orsières, all
for only CHF 139!
For those who have a ski pass
from another resort, the PASS
Saint- Bernard costs only CHF 69!
Ski aficionados can enjoy the
PASS Saint-Bernard as well as
the slopes in Verbier at the
beginning and end of the season
for just CHF 199!

THE NATURAL
ICE RINK AT
CHAMPEX-LAC
At an altitude of 1,470 m, the
village of Champex-Lac offers
one of the most beautiful ski
areas in Switzerland. When winter
arrives and the lake is transformed
into a huge ice rink over
150 metres long and about 70
metres wide, skaters of all ages
come to enjoy the enchanting
setting of the surrounding
Alps and forest. Champex-Lac is
not nicknamed the "Little Swiss
Canada" by chance!

SUMMER
ACTIVITIES

A LAND OF
LANDSCAPES
With its wide open spaces, the Pays
du St-Bernard becomes a hiking paradise
during the summer months,
with the Mont-Blanc, Combins and
St-Bernard Tours and the cultural
itinerary of the Via Francigena as
highlights. Other more original activities
to discover include pedal boats
on Champex Lake with the Combins
mountain range as a backdrop,
"rap jumping" down the wall of the
Toules dam or the Flore-Alpe botanical
garden at Champex-lac, one of
the largest gardens in the Alps with
4,000 species!

495 km
marked footpaths
7
mountain bike
routes
10
trail running
routes

4
major excursions:
Mont-Blanc,
Combins, Tour,
Saint-Bernard and
Via Francigena
52
thrilling activities
19
natural sites:
water points,
reserves and
botanical gardens

Grand Combin
4314m
Cabane de Valsorey
Mont Vélan
3722m
HIKING MAP
Col du Grand
Saint Bernard
2469m
Fenêtre de Ferret
2695m
Grand Golliat
3238m
Grand Col Ferret
2536m
Mont Dolent
3819m
Grandes
Jorasses
4208m
Mont Blanc
4808m
Glacier de
Boveire
Cabane du Vélan
Lacs de Fenêtre
Le Tsavre
2977m
Bivouac du Dolent
Glacier de Corbassière
Lac des
Toules
BOURG-SAINT-
BERNARD
Col du Névé
de la Rousse
2752m
Ferret
Aiguille d’Argentière
3898m
Glacier d’Argentière
Petit Combin
3668m
Pointe des Toules
2726m
BOURG-SAINT-PIERRE
Dranse d’Entremont
Gîte de
Champlong
Combe de l'A
Cabane de
la Tsissette
Tour de Bavon
2476m
Val Ferret
LA FOULY
Dranse de Ferret
Cabane de l’A Neuve
Cabane de Saleinaz
Glacier de Saleinaz
Glacier du Trient
Cabane du Trient
Pointe d’Orny
3271m
Glacier du Tour
LIDDES
Praz-de-Fort
Cabane d’Orny
Fenêtre d’Arpette
2665m
Cabane de Mille
Vichères
Tsamonay
2111m
La Breya
2374m
Val d'Arpette
Génepi
2882m
Issert
Six Blanc
2445m
Somlaproz
CHAMPEX-LAC
Lac de Champex
Pointe Ronde
2655m
Commeire
Bovine
ORSIERES
Catogne
2598m
Champex d’en Bas
La Rosière

PASS
SAINT BERNARD
SUMMER
Launched in 2016, the PASS
Saint-Bernard is a pass that gives
access to a number of activities
in addition to public transport by
bus from Orsières.
During the summer, everyone
staying in accommodation in the
region benefits from the summer
version of the PASS Saint-
Bernard for only CHF 29.

THE VIA
FRANCIGENA
It’s the year 990. After being
ordained Archbishop of
Canterbury by Pope John XV,
Sigeric returned home, noting
on two pages the names of the
80 places where he had stopped
to spend the night. The Via
Francigena was born! A cultural
itinerary of the Council of Europe
since 1994, it crosses the Alps
via the legendary Grand-Saint-
Bernard Pass, the highest point
of the route.

THE LACS
DE FENÊTRE
About two hours on foot from
the bottom of the Val Ferret or
the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard,
the three Lacs de Fenêtre form a
small paradise on earth. Far from
any trace of humans, the reflections
of Mont-Blanc, the Grandes
Jorasses and the Mont Dolent
shimmer in the cold waters
before becoming postcards!

CULTURAL
HERITAGE

A REGION WITH A
1,000-YEAR-OLD
HISTORY
The Pays du St-Bernard is known for
its emblematic dogs, but it is also
a region rich in cultural heritage.
Already in ancient times, the Romans
understood the strategic importance
of the pass and the surrounding area
for trade and pilgrimages. Around
1050, the Archdeacon of Aosta
founded the Hospice du Grand-St-
Bernard, which welcomed travellers
arriving at the pass. The St. Bernard
region has always emphasised hospitality,
while preserving its unique
alpine environment.
Mainly agricultural, Valais has
entered the age of tourism with destinations
such as the magnificent
lake resort of Champex. This region
is a treasure trove for travellers in
search of nature and culture, offering
a variety of historical sites, museums
and other places to discover. Come
and explore the Pays du St-Bernard
and find all it has to offer.

18
places of worship
1
mill
2
artillery forts

THE ARTILLERY FORT
AT CHAMPEX-LAC
A fascinating world in the heart
of the mountains with an unusual
atmosphere: a fortress
hidden under the Alps. The
Champex-Lac artillery fort is the
central point of the fortified system
in the Grand St. Bernard
region. Built in 1940 and 1943,
modernised and adapted in the
event of a possible nuclear conflict
during the Cold War period,
the fort was used by the Swiss
army until 1998. With more than
600 metres of galleries dug into
the mountain and totally invisible
from the outside, the fort
could house 300 men.

GASTRONOMY
AND TERROIR

A TASTE
OF THE PEAKS
Our region is renowned for its terroir.
Do not hesitate to step inside
doors of the various establishments
in the region to discover the flavours
of Grand-Entremont.
Fresh and regional produce guaranteed:
be it raclette AOP, spicy
dried meat or deliciously spiced rye
bread, the region is filled with culinary
traditions and Alpine delights.
Thanks to its unparalleled geographical
location, the Pays du
St-Bernard enjoys an ideal climate,
which is the source of the richness
of its local products.
Local specialities go hand-in-hand
with high quality gastronomy and
to which you will have no issue
treating yourself to at the many
restaurants in the region.

63
delightful
establishments
with a gourmet
restaurant
21
cheese
tasting venues
2
butcheries

THE GRAND-
ENTREMONT
GIFT HAMPER
La Corbeille d'Entremont was
one of the first local produce
gift hampers in Switzerland.
Launched in 1996, it promotes the
diversity and richness of Grand
Entremont's agriculture, the commitment
of its producers and the
passion of its artisans in a hamper
that brings together the best its
mountains have to offer for a gift
that is 100% from the region.
Along with the products mentioned
previously, it includes
the famous PDO rye bread,
Entremont honey, renowned
for the diversity of its flora, as
well as wines from Vollèges and
Bovernier produced by the best
Valaisan winegrowers.

ACCOMMODATION

FROM HUTS TO
LUXURY HOTELS
Looking for a unique and memorable
travel experience? The Pays du
St-Bernard is full of unusual accommodation
that is sure to inspire you.
Nestled in the heart of nature, this
region is known for its warm welcome
and its desire to help travellers
discover all the riches of its territory.
With over 9,500 beds available, the
Pays du St-Bernard has a wide variety
of accommodation to suit all
tastes and budgets.
Choose from a wide range of possibilities,
from campsites to hotels, from
group accommodation to mountain
huts, from hostels to B&Bs and gîtes
(rural holiday rentals). Whatever your
preference, you’ll easily find a reason
to extend your stay in this picturesque
region to discover all that the
Pays du St-Bernard has to offer.

9
mountain huts
26
hotels and
campsites
17
group
accommodation
options

THE CLUB ALPIN
Inaugurated in 2020, the latest
hotel to be built in the Pays
du St-Bernard is located in
Champex. The Club Alpin offers
rooms, suites and a top quality
spa at its premises by the
lakeside. Its gastronomic restaurant
"Au 1465" has already
been awarded 16 Gault et Millau
points and a Michelin star. The
terrace on the water's edge
alone is worth a visit.

UN A COLOURFUL
AGENDA
HAUT CALENDAR!
COULEURS !
FEBRUARY
END JULY
Tavolata at Champex-Lac
Trail du Vélan
FÉVRIER MARCH
Tavolata Erika Hess sur Open le lac in de La Champex Fouly
Trophée du St-Bernard
MARS
Open Erika Hess à La Fouly
END JUNE
Bourg en glisse
FIN JUIN
Bourg en glisse
JULY AND AUGUST
EN
Daily
JUILLET
discovery of
ET
the Pays
AOÛT
du
St-Bernard region and heritage
Découverte quotidienne du terroir
EARLY
et du patrimoine
JULY
du Pays du
St-Bernard
Trail Verbier St-Bernard by UTMB
DÉBUT MID-JULY JUILLET
Trail Verbier St-Bernard by UTMB
IAM Champex Challenge
MI-JUILLET
IAM Champex Challenge
FIN END JUILLET JULY
Trail Champex-Lac du Vélan craft market
FIN END JUILLET AUGUST
Marché UTMB, CCC artisanal and OCC de Champex-Lac
FIN MID-SEPTEMBER
AOÛT
UTMB, Désalpe CCC de La et OCC Fouly
(cattle descent)
MI SEPTEMBRE
EARLY OCTOBER
Désalpe de La Fouly
Gathering-focused gourmet
DÉBUT walk around OCTOBRE
Val Ferret
Balade gourmande autour
de DECEMBER
la chasse du Val Ferret
St. Nicholas Day
DÉCEMBRE
Fête de Saint-Nicolas

FURTHER
INFORMATION
AND CONTACT
DETAILS
MEDIA CONTACTS
Angela Zoratti
angela.zoratti@saint-bernard.ch
+41 27 775 23 81
#MyPSB