Bard (IT)

FORTE CULTURA Station: Bard Fortress (IT) - Photo ©Hagai Agmon Snir

Forte di Bard - bulwark at the entrance to the Aosta Valley

One of the best examples of fortress construction at the beginning of the 19th century

In the Dora Baltea river valley, the fortress of Bard is enthroned in the middle of a deep gorge on a rocky hill above the village of the same name. The strategic advantages of the natural features of the location were recognised early on, which is why the important access to the Aosta Valley had already been fortified since the 6th century.

Napoleon also had to recognise this when his troops tried to pass through Bard in May 1800 and were severely delayed by only 400 Austrians. On 1 June, he finally led a successful attack on the fortress himself and then had it almost completely destroyed. Carlo Alberto Amadeo (King of Sardinia-Piedmont) rebuilt the present-day fortress of Bard from the ground up between 1830 and 1838.

Today, the fortress is a jewel of fortress architecture and delights many visitors every year with its architecture, museums, modern exhibitions and events. Discover the fascinating fortress of Bard in the Aosta Valley with FORTE CULTURA.