| THE GREAT ST. BERNARD HOSPICE Monks in the seventeenth century used Saint Bernard dogs to assist in the rescues of lost or stranded travelers. The Great St. Bernard Hospice had a fire in 1555, which destroyed all historical documents. Therefore, the first written documentation of the dogs existence isn't found until 1707. The Saint bernard is accredited with saving as many as two thousand lives at the St. Bernard Pass. Barry, the most famous of them all, is said to have saved forty lives alone. It was believed that a thicker coat would be helpful during the harsh winters. The Newfoundland was bred into the Saint, in order to add the rough coat. However, the rough coat proved to be more of a hindrance, due to snow crusting on the coats. The monks found new homes for the rough coat, and kept the original smooth coats. Today, the hospice is a popular tourist attraction. There is a museum that contains early accounts of establishing the hospice. In order to remind the tourists of the original purpose of the hospice, there is a statue of Bernard de Menthon. The Hospice now only keeps a few Saints at the Hospice during the tourist season, between June and September. |
History
Saints Hill Farm
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