Via francigena 2017 - Page 2

Bourg Saint-Pierre - Col du Grand Saint Bernard (13,8 km)

After the equally good breakfast, we first went through the small town again, then steeply uphill and later along a long gravel path to the reservoir. Past the reservoir, the path ran for a long time along a stream slightly downhill. Here we took a long rest, because after that it went steeply uphill for a long time. Narrow paths led through cow pastures and after crossing the pass road it went really high over rocky terrain.

Soon the first houses at the summit were visible, we had reached the Great St. Bernard, a highlight of our tour. Here we immediately checked into the hospice, a pilgrim hostel, and what a miracle, a little later another pilgrim couple arrived. They were two of the three pilgrims we saw on this year's route. After the arrival procedure, we sat down for a beer in the sun and then set off on little explorations. Manu took a walk around the beautiful lake, I climbed the surrounding mountains.

6 p.m. we were back on time for Mass, after which there was a communal dinner for all guests, very plentiful and good for a hostel. We couldn't get enough of the landscape and went for an evening walk by the lake. A couple of thirsty Englishmen had a barbecue at the roadside, we talked with beer and wine with a Welsh construction worker, who renewed the paths up here, while the landscape around the lake constantly changed its colors.

Col du Grand Saint Bernard - Gignod (24,1 km)

After breakfast together with the guests of the hospice, an eternally long descent from the mountain awaited us. For the time being everything was foggy, we could not even see the 5 m distant lake. But as always in the mountains, the weather changed quickly, passing the statue of St. Bernard, deep valleys opened up. Over fields it went steeply downhill. Right in the first part of the descent we saw playful and very trusting marmots. Some hikers were also on the way, most make here only the ascent and descent to the Grand Saint Bernard with overnight stay in the hospice or hotel.

Further down the road passed through idyllic little towns, Saint Leonard with little pilgrims on the street lamps, the Francigena seems to be here at least a small economic factor. On beautiful shady forest paths with water channels (Rus) on the side, we crossed Etroubles and reached Gignod, our destination for today, in the early afternoon. In the village center we first took a cooling beer before we looked for our accommodation.

This was looked after by 2 older gentlemen and had a beautiful terrace. Only the restaurant was closed and so we were driven in the evening to a 3 km away village for dinner. Did not like us quite so, but the very communicative owner had nailed us immediately 🙂. The rest of the evening we made ourselves wide on the terrace and enjoyed the twilight with beautiful views into the mountain flanks.