Fort Bard

Coordinates: 45°36′30″N 7°44′41″E / 45.60833°N 7.74472°E / 45.60833; 7.74472
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Fort Bard
Part of
Autonomous region Aosta Valley
Open to
the public
Yes
ConditionRestored
Site history
Built1830–1838
Built byFrancesco Antonio Olivero
MaterialsStone
Concrete
Garrison information
OccupantsMuseum of the Alps

Fort Bard, also known as Bard Fort (

Bard, a town and comune in the Aosta Valley region of northwestern Italy.[1]
Fort Bard has been completely restored after many years of neglect. In 2006 it reopened to tourists as the Museum of the Alps, it has additional art exhibitions and galleries. In the summer, the main courtyard is used to host musical and theatrical performances.

History

The fort, which is at the entrance to the Aosta Valley, is located in a narrow gorge above the

Charles Albert of Savoy, fearing new attacks from the French, ordered that the fort be rebuilt. The task was entrusted to the famed Italian military engineer, Francesco Antonio Olivero
. The work, which took eight years to complete, created a fort with two distinct levels. The upper part had conventional battlements whereas the lower part had 50 gun ports in autonomous casemates that were designed to offer mutual protection if attacked. A total of 416 soldiers could now be billeted in the 283-room fort. The upper level had a courtyard which contained the arsenals and barracks. The fort had enough ammunition and food supplies for three months. By the end of the 19th century, the fort had lost its military value and fell into disuse. However, the Italian Army did continue to use the fort as a powder magazine. When it closed in 1975, ownership passed to the government of the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta. In the 1980s the fort opened as a tourist attraction despite many buildings needing urgent repair.

Present day

In the late 1990s the fort was closed. It then underwent major restoration work. In 2006 Fort Bard reopened as the Museum of the Alps. Fort Bard and its town were used as the fictional Eastern European country of Sokovia in the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron directed by Joss Whedon.

Gallery

  • View of the lower Casemates.
    View of the lower Casemates.
  • Funicular railway that takes visitors up to Fort Bard
    Funicular railway
    that takes visitors up to Fort Bard
  • Fort Bard is 80m above the bottom of the gorge and the Dora Baltea river
    Fort Bard is 80m above the bottom of the gorge and the Dora Baltea river
  • The main gateway was protected by a bridge. The rock-cut dry moat now has art installations.
    The main gateway was protected by a bridge. The rock-cut dry moat now has art installations.
  • The gateway to the courtyard.
    The gateway to the courtyard.
  • A summer festival performance in the renovated courtyard.
    A summer festival performance in the renovated courtyard.
  • The restored interior of the fort.
    The restored interior of the fort.
  • A Museum of the Alps gallery within the restored fort.
    A Museum of the Alps gallery within the restored fort.
  • More of the main part of the fort.
    More of the main part of the fort.
  • Gun ports were positioned to maximise enfilading fire.
    Gun ports were positioned to maximise
    enfilading fire
    .
  • The fort's commanding position dominates this part of the Aosta Valley.
    The fort's commanding position dominates this part of the Aosta Valley.

References

Bibliography

  • James R. Arnold, Marengo and Hohenlinden: Napoleon's Rise to Power (Pen and Sword, 1999)
  • David G. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon (London, 1966)
  • International Napoleonic Congress, L'Europa scopre Napoleone, 1793-1804: Atti del Congresso internazionale napoleonico, Cittadella di Alessandria, 21-26 giugno (Edizioni dell'Orso, 1999)

External links