Fort of Bard

The Fort of Bard, preserved almost intact since its construction, is one of the finest examples of an early 19th-century barrier fortress.
The stronghold is composed of three main structures built at different levels, between 400 and 467 meters above sea level: the lowest Opera Ferdinando, the mid-level Opera Vittorio, and the upper Opera Carlo Alberto, for a total of 283 rooms. Opera Ferdinando, with its distinctive pincer shape, includes two main buildings that house the Museum of Fortifications and Frontiers. Behind it lie the Opera Mortai and the Powder Magazine, today used for educational workshops and temporary exhibitions. About halfway up stands Opera Vittorio, home to Le Alpi dei Ragazzi, an interactive route introducing children and young people to mountaineering. At the top rises the most imposing structure, Opera Carlo Alberto, surrounded by defensive walls. It encloses the Opera di Gola with its courtyard and the large quadrangular Piazza d’Armi, bordered by wide arcades. Here, the first floor hosts the Museum of the Alps, while the ground floor along the Deambulatorio is used for temporary exhibitions (Cannoniere, Cantine, Corpo di Guardia) and the Vallée Culture space. Inside Opera Carlo Alberto are also the Prisons, with 24 detention cells arranged in four wings, featuring a multimedia exhibition on the history of the fortress.