The Great St Bernard Pass (2469 m) is the third-highest road pass in Switzerland and the most storied crossing in the Alps: Celtic tribes came through in 390 BC, Rome built a temple on the summit, and Napoleon led 40,000 troops over in 1800. The hospice founded in 1049 still stands at the top — its monks bred the St Bernard rescue dogs that carried lost travellers down. The Tour de France has crossed five times; snow keeps the road shut outside roughly June to September.
Col du Grand Saint-Bernard
2469 m · Switzerland
Also: Colle del Gran San Bernardo
Pass road usually open June–September (tunnel stays open year-round)
Open on the map →The 2 sides
| From | Length | Gain | Avg | Max | Cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourg St Pierre | 20.8 km | +1270 m | 6.1% | ≈11.3% | HC |
| Saint Rhemy | 14.4 km | +961 m | 6.7% | ≈9.2% | HC |
From Bourg St Pierre
Hors catégorie≈12 hairpin bendsfaces N
From Saint Rhemy
Hors catégorie≈15 hairpin bendsfaces S
0–4%4–7%7–10%10–12%12%+
The climb
Race history
5× Tour de France · 4× Giro d'Italia · 1949–2009