Saint-Oyen

History and tasty traditions

At an altitude of 1373 meters, as you go towards the Great St. Bernard Pass, you will come across the village of Saint-Oyen. It is an important transit point and its history is closely linked to the Pass and to the monks of the Great St. Bernard. In 1137, Amedeo III of Savoy donated the fortified house of Château Verdun to the monks, which was used as a farm for the hospice at the pass and as a stopping point too. Today, the fortified house hosts Benedictine-enclosed nuns in one wing of the building, while another part of the complex serves as a vacation home open to all and as a stopping point for those traveling the Via Francigena.

Surrounded by pastures and offering a wide variety of environments with different altitudes and exposures, Saint-Oyen provides numerous opportunities for hiking and mountain biking lovers during the beautiful season. In winter, whether you're an adult or a child, you can have fun at the snow park in Flassin. In addition, if you're a sports lover, you'll find satisfaction on the 18 km cross-country ski track that passes through the municipalities of Étroubles and Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses too.

Rich in history and traditions, the village of Saint-Oyen preserves the tradition of the historical carnival, which it shares with other villages in the valley. Among the most important and delicious traditions, Saint-Oyen has been preserving and passing down since the Middle Ages a tasty recipe: Jambon alla Brace, a ham cooked in the oven or with a rotisserie with local herbs and flavors that will pleasantly surprise your palate.