Be there when the St. Bernards of the Barry Foundation are being fed and groomed; watch them play or sleep; watch how excited they are when they are taken for a walk, and get a chance to meet one of our St. Bernards up close and personal for a photo session with selected dogs.
Just like their ancestor, the wolf, St. Bernards are carnivores (meat eaters). That does not mean that the dogs only eat meat: The ancestors of modern dogs ate their prey whole, including bones, tendons and mainly plant-based stomach and intestinal contents. This provided them with the right combination of vitamins and minerals, which are particularly important for large animals such as our St. Bernards to ensure a healthy bone structure. As with humans, dogs’ nutritional requirements vary throughout their life cycle (growing puppy, adult dog and older age). For this reason, our breeders carefully determine the correct food type and quantity and make sure that our St. Bernards do not become overweight. Puppies up to six months are fed three to four times a day, whereas dogs of six months or older twice a day. The dogs are fed in the outdoor enclosure, and watching them is always a rewarding sight. The St. Bernards rest for about two hours after eating, during which time we do not take them for long walks. We kindly ask that visitors respect the dogs’ resting time and not knock on the windows or try to attract their attention in the outdoor enclosure.
| Dog feeding time: | from 5.15 PM |
| to approx. 5.30 PM |
Learn how to behave properly in different situations with a dog you know or don't know.
Activity for children from 7 years of from 4 years accompagnied by a parent.
Dates (every 1st Wednesday of the month):
03.02.2021 / 03.03.2021 / 07.04.2021 / 05.05.2021 / 02.06.2021
Barryland breeds puppies two or three times a year. The puppies stay at Barryland for four weeks, and their arrival is announced on our website and in Facebook. The Barryland is particularly worth a visit at these times.
It is always moving to watch these clumsy, undisciplined, playful, dozy, greedy little fur balls, accompanied by their often very protective mother. For the sake of their health and wellbeing, petting and touching of young St. Bernards are not permitted.
If you have fallen in love with our puppies, you can watch them via live streaming.
| Puppies at Barryland: | |
The Great Saint Bernard: an illustrated history
A collection of historical prints of the region
The Great St. Bernard Pass and Hospice, and the canons and the Saint Bernard rescue dog itself, are closely linked both in history and in the images that carry the reputation of this mythical place far and wide as one of the compulsory passages linking north-west Europe to the Mediterranean.
Thanks to the collaboration of Frédéric Künzi and Léonard Gianadda, a large collection of old prints has been created and showcased in exhibitions and publications. By taking over this collection, the Barry Foundation wishes to honour the Hospice’s influence, the canons' commitment and the feats of the Swiss national dog. It is also marking its own commitment to continuing the work carried out and building on the legacy with the addition of recent contributions by Giuseppe Vuyet, André Kuenzi and Annette Ferrari.
The exhibition portrays the iconic sites of the Alpine crossing from Lake Geneva to Aosta, the Hospice, the canons and the dogs as well as the Napoleonic adventure, which contributed to turning a perilous crossing into a legendary pass that one had to cross at least once in one's lifetime.
Every day from 10am to 6pm
Spend a privileged moment with our Saint-Bernards by accompanying them on a hike. This is the ideal opportunity to get to know this superb breed of emblematic Swiss dogs with their friendly and jovial character.
Throughout the seasons, the Barry Foundation offers various walks:
- Winter hikes in Champex-Lac
- Spring hikes in Martigny
- Summer hikes at the Great Saint Bernard Pass
TICKETS AND RESERVATIONS
Combine your visit to Barryland with other activities in Martigny and elsewhere in the Valais region. Here are just a few places to see and things to do:
Roman amphitheatre
The second-century amphitheatre is just next to Barryland and is used to this day as a venue site.
Pierre Gianadda Foundation
The famous art foundation hosts a constant succession of world-class temporary exhibitions: Nearly 10 million visitors have come here to admire works from private collections and the great museums of the world.
Tissières Foundation, Geosciences Museum
Since 2001, the Foundation has devoted itself to information, popularisation and animation in geosciences. It is also engaged in ecotourism, promoting sustainable natural and cultural tourism.
Western-style town
A 10,000 m2 theme park offers children over 3 years fun, games and adventures with more than 70 attractions.
Marécottes Alpine Zoo
This zoological garden is the highest in Europe, situated at an elevation of 1100 m, surrounded by fir and larch woods. The swimming pool is open from June onwards.