Discovering the Hidden Wonders of Forte di Bard
Its history goes back many centuries; the fortress was built along the old Roman road of the Gauls, of which traces can still be seen today. On the other hand, some of the houses along the path that leads to the imposing fortress are of medieval origin. It seems that the Clausurae Augustanae, an Ostrogothic garrison, was located here as early as the 6th century.
We will retrace, step by step, the fascinating history of the fort, also through the testimonies of its most illustrious visitors, who, impressed by its beauty, wrote about it in various chronicles, the oldest of which date back to the early Middle Ages.
In addition to its majesty, the Forte di Bard has maintained its importance over the centuries thanks to its perfect strategic position: as we shall see, its position on the course of the Dora Baltea river allowed it to control both the Po Valley and Savoy and, precisely to prevent it from falling into enemy hands, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered it to be razed to the ground during his passage to the Battle of Marengo.
It was then Charles Felix of Savoy, fearing new aggressions on the French front, who ordered its restoration, the stages of which I will explain to you during our visit. You can ask me as many questions as you like!
Today, the fortress is a very important museum centre that retraces the history of the fortress, its visitors and regional art. The Museum of the Alps is very important and is also home to exhibition spaces, conference rooms and activities to promote local culture.
It will be an itinerary not to be missed, during which I will accompany you in your discovery of the history and culture of this region, starting from one of its most enchanting places!
Information
The entrance fee is €8.00 full, €7.00 reduced.
Opening times
Summer opening hours, daily 9am - 7pm
Other informations
The guided tour of the village and the Bard's fortress, including the exhibition area, lasts approximately 2 hours. Entrance fees are not included in the price of the tour.