Fort of Exilles
The Exilles Fort (
History
The first mention of a fortified structure in the place dates from the 7th century, when a chronicler of the
The first description of the castle dates from 1339: it had a quadrangular plan with more towers, quite different from the massive structure visible today. Between 1494-1496 it was used as an ammunition depot by
In 1595, after a month-long siege, it was again in French hands. The Savoyards would receive it back only in 1708, after the War of the Spanish Succession. In this century the French strongly rebuilt the fort. In 1720 the Piedmontese revised it under the direction of military engineer Ignazio Bertola. In 1745, during the War of the Austrian Succession, the French attacked the fort, but were pushed back.[1]
When
The famous historical character known as L'homme au masque de fer (The Man in the Iron Mask) spent some years captive in the fortress jail.
References
- ^ Ruggiero, Michele. Storia della valle di Susa. p. 312.
Sources
- Barrera, Francesco (2002). I Sette Forti di Exilles. Metamorfosi architettonica di un complesso fortificato. Turin: Museo Nazionale della Montagna "Duca degli Abruzzi".
- Minola, Mauro (2000). Il Forte di Exilles. Sant'Ambrogio di Torino: Susalibri.
External links
45°05′54″N 6°55′55″E / 45.0983°N 6.9319°E
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