La Salle Mont Blanc Experience

The Fort Bard is a fortified complex rebuilt in the 19th century by the House of Savoy on the rock overlooking the village of Bard in Valle d’Aosta.

The Fortress has been restored for conservation purposes: in January 2006 it was reopened to visitors and currently hosts exhibitions of ancient, modern, contemporary and photographic art.

The fort houses several museum centres within its structure.

• Museum of the Alps (Opera Carlo Alberto, ground floor)
• Museum of the Fort (Opera Ferdinando Superiore, ground floor): opened in 2017, it deals with the history of fortresses, defensive techniques and the concept of frontier
• Le Alpi dei ragazzi and La Scala del tempo (Opera Vittorio, ground floor): opened in 2007, it houses an itinerary of images and sounds aimed at recalling the main historical events of the Western Alps
• The Prisons: houses an itinerary focused on the reconstruction of the various phases of the Fort’s architectural development from the medieval castle to the 19th century fortress; it also celebrates some of the personalities who characterised the Fort, such as its builder Antonio Olivero, Napoleon Bonaparte, Camillo Benso Count of Cavour and Henry Beyle (Stendhal)
• The Ferdinando, Museum of Fortifications and Frontiers (Opera Ferdinando): a journey through the evolution of defensive techniques, siege systems and the concept of the frontier
• The courtyards in the Opera Carlo Alberto and the Opera di Gola used as spaces for open-air music and theatre
• The Opera Carlo Alberto, the Sala degli Archi candidi and the Sala Olivero are used as conference rooms
• The Opera Mortai and the Polveriera are used as school areas with classrooms for lectures, meetings and screenings

The Fortress of Bard also hosts various events each year:

• Marché au Fort (mid-October): festival of typical Aosta Valley products.
• Napoleonica (end of August): re-enactment of the siege by Napoleon’s troops
• Monterosa Walser Ultra Trail (first Saturday in August): the Walser Trail on the slopes of Monterosa
• Forteight (end of September): the 8 km of the Fort Bard
• I Colloqui del forte di Bard (April): an in-depth event on specific themes, directed by the Prior of Bose, Enzo Bianchi, and with the participation of numerous interpreters from various disciplines
• Meteolab (November): event dedicated to the theme of sustainability and the environment
• Estate al Forte (Summer at the Fort): summer shows and entertainment with music, theatre and dance events