Col du Petit Saint-Bernard

An ancient, history-soaked pass between Savoie and the Aosta Valley, climbing past La Rosiere to a broad 2188 metre saddle.

The D1090 leaves Bourg-Saint-Maurice and works up the valley flank through La Rosiere before topping out at the 2188 metre Little St Bernard pass on the Italian frontier, where the road continues as the SS26 toward La Thuile. This is one of the oldest crossings in the Alps, used by armies from Hannibal’s era onward, and the long open ascent gives sweeping panoramas back over Bourg-Saint-Maurice and across to Mont Blanc. The gradients are forgiving by alpine standards, averaging around five percent, so it is more a flowing high-mountain cruise than a hairpin test, with the most intense switchbacks waiting on the Italian descent. The pass is generally open May to October. Mind late-lying snow at the top early in the season, frequent cyclists on the steady lower slopes, and exposed weather that turns quickly at altitude.