Grand St Bernard & the Bionaz Reservoir

Italy · Switzerland · Aosta Valley

Two big climbs on consecutive days — one of Europe's oldest Alpine passes, then a second climb up the valley to a reservoir few tourists ever see.

The Grand St Bernard Pass has been a route over the Alps since Roman times — the hospice at the top has sheltered travellers (and given its name to the St Bernard dog) for nearly a thousand years. Kevin rode it on 17 September 2021, "on the Italian side," then came back the next day for a second, separate climb further up the Aosta Valley to the Place Moulin reservoir above Bionaz.

Grand St Bernard Pass

Ridden 17 September 2021 as an add-on to an already-long day: "65 Kms plus back to the start from the earlier workout." Kevin's own note: "Something always happens when you do the long hard climbs. Stunning scenery on the Italian side. Knackered by the time I reached the top."

Route data (from Strava): 48.5km, 1,234m of climbing, max grade 44.4% — and that's on top of an earlier ride the same day.

The Bionaz reservoir — a second climb the next day

Ridden 18 September 2021, up the valley from Grand St Bernard to a genuine local secret: "Stunning scenery all the way up the valley to the reservoir. Beautiful and preserved old Italian houses with breathtaking views. Great area to ride if you like mountain climbs."

Route data (from Strava): 55.9km, 1,453m of climbing, max grade 46.2% — the bigger of the two climbs, and back-to-back with the pass the day before.

What it actually looks like

A vintage Saint Bernard branded van parked at the summit of the Grand St Bernard Pass — A vintage Saint Bernard-branded van at the summit — the pass's namesake dogs are still very much part of the identity up here.

The summit lake at the Grand St Bernard Pass in the Alps — The lake at the summit of the pass, straddling the Swiss–Italian border.

Kevin's wife at a picnic table by the summit lake at Grand St Bernard Pass — Kevin's wife at the summit — this one was a family trip as well as a training day.

A switchback mountain road climbing through a green valley near Bionaz, Aosta Valley — The road up toward the Bionaz reservoir the next day — a proper switchback climb of its own.

The Place Moulin reservoir above Bionaz in the Aosta Valley, surrounded by mountains — The reservoir itself — the payoff at the top of the second day's climb.

Coffee and a croissant at a café table in the Aosta Valley — The local coffee stop — croissant and coffee, same ritual as everywhere else on this site.

Grand St Bernard Pass and the Bionaz reservoir, both in the Aosta Valley on the Italian side of the Alps.

📝 Kevin — needs your input

Name of the café for the coffee/croissant stop, if you remember it?
Confirm these were two separate days/climbs, not one combined route
Anything more on "something always happens when you do the long hard climbs" — worth telling the story properly?