More History in Switzerland as we climb.....

Searching everywhere in Martigny for the known Roman left-overs, the Roman Amphitheatre, we stumbled into the Museum dedicated to the famous Bernadino mountain dogs. Here we met George the original, stuffed but still smiling and I might say many of his followers.

 The Roman Amphitheatre was located right next door and well hidden under platforms and modern seating arrangements...ready for the on-coming wrestling display.





George sprang to attention almost when he realised
 he had visitors from Australia (almost). I've included the winter photo, snow and all, to give some idea of the size of the original complex high up in the mountain. And so we began our climb, winding narrow roads, however whenever History caught our attention, we had to stop. Fancy Napoleon and his thousands of dedicated followers joining us in our expedition...we were only interested in the life-saving dogs after all. But soon our point of interest changed.
In 1798 following the French Revolution Napoleon invaded Switzerland, his forces taking over Bern (1198) and thus establishing the Helvetic Republic. This was not a popular move but all has been forgiven and the nuggety little Frenchman is now being remembered all the way up the mountainside. His amazing trek marked across the mountain top directing thousands in an attempt to cross into Italy. And so did we, almost......

Go Back! Go Back! You are leaving Switzerland! God's own country!












Over 46 thousand troops under his command? How would he feature on Facebook today with so many friends? That's not him by the way pointing to Switzerland...I suspect it is St Bernardine showing us the way to the hospital.