Barryland

When the canons of the Great St Bernard hospice gave up breeding their dogs in 2005, a foundation took the kennels over and established them at Martigny, where the animals now live and where the museum tells their history. The name comes from Barry, a dog working at the hospice around 1800 who is credited with something like forty rescues and whose mounted body is in the natural history museum in Bern. The dogs go up to the pass for the summer, so which of them are in Martigny varies by season. The museum covers the breed's development, the hospice's work, and the brandy barrel, which was a Victorian painter's invention and never actually part of the rescue kit.

What you actually see

• The hospice kennels, relocated - the breeding line moved here in 2005.
• Barry's story - the dog credited with about forty rescues around 1800.
• Dogs that migrate - the animals spend summers up at the pass.
• The barrel debunked - a Victorian painting's invention, never real equipment.

When to go

All year; more dogs are in Martigny outside high summer. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Which dogs are present varies - in summer many are at the pass. It is aimed at families. The museum is modest in size. Martigny itself is a plain valley town.

Nearby

The Gianadda foundation is in Martigny; the Great St Bernard pass is south.