Guided Tour of the Little Saint Bernard Pass

Little Saint Bernard Pass is an alpine pass linking the valley of Thuile with the Haute-Tarantaise, in France and was frequented since the ancient times as the numerous archaeological finds provide.

The earliest testimonies of Roman presence on the Alpis Graia, as they called this hill are the remains of the mansio, used as a store and a shelter for wayfarers and the military. Next to this, right on the edge of the current paved road, there is a small temple,

A short distance away can be observed the “cromlech”, a large circle of 46 stones planted in the ground right on the border between Italy and France, a fascinating prehistoric construction that marks the pre-Roman presence of man in the area.

The hospice of the Little Saint Bernard Pass, founded in the 11th century from Saint Bernard, was repeatedly destroyed by wars and fires, but was always rebuilt. Currently it hosts the Museum on the history of the Pass, the Valdigne and the region of Savoy.

It is very particular the high marble column called Column of Joux which acts as a pedestal for the statue of Saint Bernard and replaces the former one dedicated to Jupiter, which was demolished, according to the legend, by Saint Bernard himself, once he arrived on the pass, for dismantling the symbols of paganism.

The Botanical Garden Chanousia is one of the oldest gardens of Europe and houses 1600 species and a small museum. The name of the garden is due to its founder, Abbe Pierre Chanoux, rector of the Hospice of the Pass in 1897.
Here you can appreciate varied and typical natural alpine environments, such as siliceous, alpine prairies and the rubble.

Discover here all the guided tours in the places of interest of the Aosta Valley