Saint Bernard de Menthon

Italian vicar

Also known as: Bernard d’Aosta, Bernard of Aosta, Bernard of Montjoux, Bernardino d’Aosta, San Bernardino de Mentone

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Quick Facts

Also called:: Bernard Of Aosta, or Bernard Of Montjoux

Italian:: San Bernardino De Mentone

Died:: 1081?

Saint Bernard de Menthon (died 1081?; feast day May 28) was the vicar general of Aosta diocese (now in Italy) who reestablished and was patron of hospices at the summits of two Alpine passes, renamed after him the Great and Little St. Bernard passes. Also named for him in time were the hospices’ St. Bernard dogs, famed for rescuing lost travelers.

Bernard became concerned for the safety of travelers, often pilgrims to Rome, who crossed the mountains by way of the two passes leading into Aosta. The rest houses that he established there were tended by clerics and laymen and welcomed all travelers. In 1923 Pope Pius XI named him patron saint of mountain climbers.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.