Forte di Bard, the first major monument in Val D'Aosta after Pont Saint Martin

To climb up the mountain to

Forte di Bard, they have

installed a series of 4 state-of-the

art external glass lifts with an

unhindered 360° view on all

sides  to let us enjoy the scenery.

Estela is relieved that we can us the elevators,

while enjoying the view of the town under her

feet.

The view of the river that goes

parallel to the Via Francigena,

and the how both the Via and the

river seem to cut through the

mountains, forming the

Val D'Aosta.

Estela is at the entrance level of the fort, with

a view of the Val D'Aosta in the background.

Imagine this valley several thousands of years

completely covered by a glacier moving

through and cutting its way through the

granite mountains.

 

 

Fort Bard won its place in history when on May 14, 1800, 400 Piedmont and Austrian troops stopped Napoleon Army of 40,000 French troops that were planning a surprise attack on Turin and his subsequent campaign on the Po River Valley. Napoleon was furious that the factor of surprise had been lost, and he order the fort razed to the ground.

Fort Bard was later rebuilt as a defense against any future French invasions.

 

Fort Bard eventually became a prison.

Estela tries out the prison cell

that measures a mere 3 by 6

feet.

 

The main entrance to the castle

goes over a moat, but there is

no evidence that there was a

cross bridge-

 

Napoleon troops sieged the

Forte di  Bard in 1800.

The river, the modern toll-highway and the town

of Bard  behind me.

Side view of the Fort.

 

The bridge over the moat at the main entrance.

Nearby mountains were still covered by snow in

March.

Flagstone roof of a building that

nowadays is the ticket office.

Bronze sculptures.