A Timeless Bond, Across Borders

Who doesn’t know the Saint Bernard, with its gentle gaze and imposing build? Stories tell of these dogs living at the Great St Bernard Pass, where monks of the hospice bearing the same name had been breeding them since the 17th century. Their mission? Not merely to warm hearts… but to save human lives.

During snowstorms and avalanches, Saint Bernards were sent out to search for lost travellers. Some say they wore a small wooden barrel around their necks. Whether this was an actual tradition or simply a romantic legend remains uncertain, but the image is firmly etched in the collective imagination.

Barrel or not, one thing is certain: the Saint Bernard was a working dog, but also a wise mountain guide. And even though today, in Switzerland, it has taken on a different role, it continues to be greatly appreciated.

But what is most remarkable about this story is that the Saint Bernard reminds us that, just like him, countless animals around the world have left their mark on the hearts and minds of nations through their loyalty and actions. It is in this spirit that the Noble Alliance Association seeks to pay tribute to all these loyal and irreplaceable companions who, both then and now, continue to strengthen and elevate the bond that unites us.