
The Great St. Bernard Hospice in Switzerland has existed for nearly 1,000 years as a safe haven for needy travelers and pilgrims. Photo is from 1913.
The St Bernard dog breed was created at the hospice from cross-breeding dogs, probably those offered by families in Valais in the 1660s and 1670s.
The first definite mention of the breed is in 1709. The breed was originally raised to provide guard dogs for the hospice, before they became mountain rescue dogs.








