Saint-Burnar Pass these days
The Romans equipped the Saint-Bsrnar pass at the beginning of the new era, and since then it has been connecting the Swiss canton of Vale with the Italian region of Valle-d’Aosta. Nowadays, you can easily move through the Alps by train, car or by plane, so it’s hard to imagine that once the transition through the Saint-Bernar Pass was a very risky enterprise. It was overcome in a stroller (if the road allowed), on a horse, on a mule or, in the worst case, on foot. The traveler had to rely on local residents, who sometimes indicated a good road, and sometimes bad. At dusk, it was necessary to find a refuge where animals and people could take a break. In addition, robbers were hidden in the crevices, ready to clean travelers and pilgrims. And finally, often had to face sharp temperature changes, which are so dangerous in the mountains. Do not forget about the constant threat of collapses. In the summer it was necessary to beware of the villages and rockfalls, in winter – the gathering of snow avalanches. In the XI century. Archbishkacon Aosta Saint Bernard Mentonsky founded a shelter at the top of the pass (the most important alpine trading and pilgrimage path of that time) to protect the pilgrims, give them strength and, if necessary, provide assistance. The first written mention of dogs from these places dates back to the beginning of XVIII in. The monastery chronicle indicates that the shelter was open for travelers both day and night. All travelers were offered lunch with bread and meat. Big pieces of meat were fried on a spit, and the cook had to be tight.
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In 1701. The main cook Vincent Kano constructed the mechanism into which they harnessed the dogs to turn the spinning. By 1750. Beasy to take dogs from the shelter with them. Huge mighty Senbernars paved the way through the snow with breasts. In addition, they were distinguished by an excellent ability to navigate the terrain, which helped them even in the dark or fog to take away guards and travelers to the road leading to the valley or to the shelter. Senbernars also saved people from rubble. They didn’t even need to be trained, since from birth they were able to look for everything that could only be smiled under the snow. Since that time, the number of travelers who disappeared under avalanches or frozen to death is significantly reduced. As for the barrel with alcohol, which the dogs allegedly tied to the collar, then this is most likely only a legend. Senbernars really sometimes delivered goods to a shelter, but their work as rescuers consisted mainly in finding travelers who fell into trouble, and not revive them with alcohol. In addition, in the annals of the shelter there is not a word about mysterious barrels.
Senbernar with a barrel – a romantic symbol of Alp. But in reality, this burden would prevent him from saving people, and they do not recommend drinking alcohol to the victims
The doors of the shelter are still open for travelers. Monks are still refueling them, but now they believe that their most important duty is not to save the victims of the avalanches or to encourage exhausted climbers, but to give the opportunity to move away from worldly bustle of those who need it. Senbernars also do not run along the slopes of the mountains in search of victims. They were replaced by helicopters and teams of rescuers with radars.