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Free · Open access

Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard

The Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard, at 2,188 m, links Séez, in Savoie, to La Thuile, in the Valle d'Aosta. Three different calendars overlap here: the road's, the Chanousia botanical garden's and the Hospice's. Do not conflate them.

View on mapOfficial site
Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard between Séez and La Thuile, Savoie
Rémih · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Border road pass and archaeological site
Access
Free
Best season
Late May – early November (road) · early July – mid-September (Chanousia)
Parking
Nearby
Animals
Allowed per the tourist listing; on a lead at Chanousia
Town
Séez
Winter access
closed

Official source →

What is Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard

The Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard, at 2,188 m, crosses the France–Italy border above Séez (73700), in the Tarentaise, and drops down to La Thuile, in the Valle d'Aosta. The Département de la Savoie and the Italian press write RD 1090 on the French side; on the Italian side it is the SS26.

The two sides do not open on the same day. In 2026 ANAS reopened the SS26 on Friday 22 May; on the French side an avalanche deposit near La Rosière delayed the work and the through-crossing opened only on Sunday 24 May at 10:00.

At the col stand a cromlech of 46 stones forming a circle given as 80 m across by local sources and 72 m by en.wikipedia, listed as a French monument historique in 1956 — the road was diverted in 2012 to preserve it — the Colonne de Joux, the former Columna Jovis now topped by a statue of Saint Bernard de Menthon, the Hospice founded in the 11th century, and the Chanousia alpine botanical garden, founded in 1897 by abbé Pierre Chanoux. Its season is far shorter than the road's and the two must never be merged: the garden itself announces “from July to the second Sunday of September, snow permitting”, which in 2026 is 13 September, while a regional source announces 6 July to 14 September. 14 September 2026 is a Monday.

Activities

What you can do here

Practical

Practical information

Altitude
2,188 m (all sources agree). The Chanousia garden is lower, at 2,170 m per its own site.
Coordinates
2026 opening
Italian side (SS26, ANAS): Friday 22 May 2026. French side and full crossing (RD 1090): Sunday 24 May 2026 at 10:00, after a delay caused by an avalanche deposit near La Rosière.
2026 closing
Price
Free, open access. The Chanousia garden charges €3.00.
Parking
Nearby, per the tourist listing.
Dogs
Allowed per the tourist listing. At Chanousia, on a lead only.
Accessibility
Nothing documented for the col itself. At Chanousia: disabled parking spaces, maintained paths and an accessible WC.
Chanousia garden
Opening announced for 6 July 2026 (a regional source); the garden writes “from July, snow permitting” and is not normally clear of snow before mid-July. Closing: the second Sunday of September per the garden, which is 13 September 2026, against the 14 September announced elsewhere — unresolved. 9:00–18:00 daily. €3.00 full price, €2.00 for groups of at least 10, free under 10, guided visit €2.00, audioguide free. +39 379 158 4026 · info@chanousia.org.
Hospice
Inn-restaurant, rooms, terrace, bookshop, permanent exhibition. Access from early June to the first snows of November. 2025 gîte and restaurant season: 21 June – 23 October; 2026 dates not published. Booking auberge.psbernard@orange.fr.
Roadworks
Rebuilding of a retaining wall at Les Zittieux, commune of Séez, about 6 km from the border: phase 2 scheduled for spring 2026, with alternating one-way traffic at the May 2026 reopening. No source confirms completion.
Access

How to get there

By car

On the RD 1090 from Séez and Bourg-Saint-Maurice on the French side, on the SS26 from La Thuile and Pré-Saint-Didier on the Italian side. The two sides are managed by different authorities — the Département de la Savoie and ANAS — and do not necessarily open on the same day.

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By bike

From Séez: 27 km and 1,280 m of climbing, about 5% average (Explore Savoie — the same page also writes 28 km). From Bourg-Saint-Maurice: 27.50 km, 1,289 m, 4.69% average, 8.1% maximum (Cols Cyclisme). Per en.wikipedia the Tour de France first crossed in 1949, then three times since, including 2007 and 2009.

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When to visit

When to visit

The road is open from late May until the first snows. In 2026 it opened on 22 and 24 May depending on the side; no closing date is published. If you are coming for the Chanousia garden, the window is far narrower and its end date is not settled: opening announced for 6 July 2026, closing on 13 September per the garden or 14 September per a regional source.

Winter

Winter season

Winter access window
Closed (road shut in winter) — Live status: savoie-route.fr
Winter infrastructure
Alpine skiing
Snow panorama
Clear Mont-Blanc view
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby

Where to eat, drink, stay

A restaurant in Séez?

Hosting visitors of Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard ? Appear here.

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A bakery, a shop in Séez?

Share hours and specialties with visitors of Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard.

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Photos

Gallery

Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs73 or email photos@loisirs73.fr

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When did the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard open in 2026?

The Italian side (SS26) reopened on Friday 22 May 2026 and the full crossing on Sunday 24 May 2026 at 10:00, an avalanche deposit near La Rosière having delayed the French side. Both dates are correct, each for its own side.

Is the Chanousia garden open whenever the col is open?

No, and that is the trap. The road has been open since late May, the garden opens only in July — it states itself that it is not normally free of snow before mid-July. A regional source announces 6 July – 14 September 2026; the garden writes “from July to the second Sunday of September”, which in 2026 is 13 September. We do not pick a winner.

What does the Chanousia garden cost?

€3.00 full price, €2.00 for groups of at least 10, free under 10. Guided visit €2.00, audioguide free. Open 9:00 to 18:00 without a break.

Is the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard in Savoie or Haute-Savoie?

In Savoie (73), commune of Séez. The Hospice's own website places it in Haute-Savoie: that is an error.

Are there roadworks on the col road?

The rebuilding of a retaining wall at Les Zittieux, in the commune of Séez about 6 km from the border, had a phase 2 scheduled for spring 2026, and traffic ran alternating one-way at the May 2026 reopening. No source confirms completion: check before setting off.

Featured in our selections
The great passes of Savoie: altitudes, openings, access
Sources

Sources & verification

Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.

Published 8 août 2026·Updated 10/08/26

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