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FORTE DI BARD AND ITS MUSEUMS
Fortress surrounded by a characteristic medieval village
Already at the beginning of the 6th century AD there was a garrison in Bard made up of sixty armed men who defended the so-called “Clausuræ Augustanæ”, the defensive system set up to protect the borders of the Empire.
In 1034 this system was defined as "inexpugnabile oppidum", and this is one of the oldest references to a castle in Valle d'Aosta.
In 1242 the Savoys, with Amedeo IV, came into possession of the lordship of Bard, driven by the insistence of the inhabitants of the area, tired of the abuses of Ugo di Bard who, thanks to the position of his castle, imposed heavy taxes on travelers and merchants. From that moment, the castle will always depend on the Savoys, who will establish a garrison there: in 1661 the weapons from the other Aosta Valley fortifications are even concentrated in Bard, including Verrès and Montjovet.
What we see today is the makeover commissioned by Carlo Felice who, in the midst of the Restoration, starting in 1830 made it one of the most massive military structures in the Aosta Valley.
The fortress is made up of three main buildings: starting from the bottom, there are the Ferdinando Opera, the middle building and the Carlo Alberto Opera. The latter is the most impressive of the three works, which encloses the large quadrangular courtyard of the Piazza d'Armi, surrounded by a large portico, where the spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions are located: inside, in addition to the Museum of Alps, there are the Prisons, which host a multimedia thematic itinerary on the history of the Fort.
To access the top of the fortress, it is possible to follow the pedestrian path that develops between massive walls starting from the interesting medieval village next to the parking lot, or use the panoramic lifts through which you can enjoy a wonderful view of the surrounding valley.
THE MUSEUM OF THE ALPS
Located on the first floor of the Carlo Alberto Opera House, the Museo delle Alpi is an interactive space through which the visitor can travel to discover the alpine world, exploring with the five senses a mountain experienced and transformed by the hand of man. The 29 rooms of the exhibition itinerary are divided into four sections, which deal with the mountain from a naturalistic, geographical, anthropological and meteorological point of view, involving guests of all ages, thanks to the fusion between tradition and new technologies.
Housed inside the Opera Vittorio, it is a playful space in which visitors can try their hand at a virtual ascent of Mont Blanc, in a preparatory context for frequenting the mountains and practicing mountaineering, useful not only for children, but also adults.
The itinerary develops in nine rooms, starting from the preparation of the journey, during which the climber chooses the easiest itinerary and the most suitable equipment to face the enterprise, up to the summit, passing through the stages that will make skilled mountaineer even the most inexperienced tourist.
THE PRISONS
The narrow cells where the prisoners were locked up now house a historical itinerary that guides the visitor to discover the history of the military site, a strategic place of transit for centuries. Through films, documents and 3D reconstructions of great impact, visitors can follow the architectural evolution of the fortress and get to know the characters who marked the main historical events from the year 1000 to its reconstruction in 1830, up to the present day.
MUSEUM OF FORTIFICATIONS AND FRONTIERS
Located in the Ferdinando Opera, on the first level of the fortified fortress, the museum offers a journey through the evolution of defensive techniques, siege systems and the concept of frontier. Scale reconstructions of wall sections of fortifications, models, films and authentic weapons, allow us to observe the evolution of the fortresses starting from the Roman era up to the twentieth century. The section dedicated to the theme of borders intends to make people reflect on the meaning of this term, in a path that transmits a structured vision of the Bard Fort and of the historical, social, cultural and geopolitical context within which it is inserted in the various historical periods.
Hours: from Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 18.00
Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10.00 to 19.00
The Caffetteria di Gola is open to the public
The ticket offices are open but it is recommended to use the online sales channels
Fort of Bard, 11020 Bard (AO)
Telephone: +39 0125 833811
Internet: www.fortedibard.it Restaurants:
Via Umberto I, 11020 Bard
Telephone: +39 0125 809878
Internet: www.hoteladgallias.com
Via Vittorio Emanuele II 5/7, 11020 Bard
Telephone: +39 0125 809878
Internet: www.hoteladgallias.com
In 1034 this system was defined as "inexpugnabile oppidum", and this is one of the oldest references to a castle in Valle d'Aosta.
In 1242 the Savoys, with Amedeo IV, came into possession of the lordship of Bard, driven by the insistence of the inhabitants of the area, tired of the abuses of Ugo di Bard who, thanks to the position of his castle, imposed heavy taxes on travelers and merchants. From that moment, the castle will always depend on the Savoys, who will establish a garrison there: in 1661 the weapons from the other Aosta Valley fortifications are even concentrated in Bard, including Verrès and Montjovet.
What we see today is the makeover commissioned by Carlo Felice who, in the midst of the Restoration, starting in 1830 made it one of the most massive military structures in the Aosta Valley.
The fortress is made up of three main buildings: starting from the bottom, there are the Ferdinando Opera, the middle building and the Carlo Alberto Opera. The latter is the most impressive of the three works, which encloses the large quadrangular courtyard of the Piazza d'Armi, surrounded by a large portico, where the spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions are located: inside, in addition to the Museum of Alps, there are the Prisons, which host a multimedia thematic itinerary on the history of the Fort.
To access the top of the fortress, it is possible to follow the pedestrian path that develops between massive walls starting from the interesting medieval village next to the parking lot, or use the panoramic lifts through which you can enjoy a wonderful view of the surrounding valley.
THE MUSEUM OF THE ALPS
Located on the first floor of the Carlo Alberto Opera House, the Museo delle Alpi is an interactive space through which the visitor can travel to discover the alpine world, exploring with the five senses a mountain experienced and transformed by the hand of man. The 29 rooms of the exhibition itinerary are divided into four sections, which deal with the mountain from a naturalistic, geographical, anthropological and meteorological point of view, involving guests of all ages, thanks to the fusion between tradition and new technologies.
Housed inside the Opera Vittorio, it is a playful space in which visitors can try their hand at a virtual ascent of Mont Blanc, in a preparatory context for frequenting the mountains and practicing mountaineering, useful not only for children, but also adults.
The itinerary develops in nine rooms, starting from the preparation of the journey, during which the climber chooses the easiest itinerary and the most suitable equipment to face the enterprise, up to the summit, passing through the stages that will make skilled mountaineer even the most inexperienced tourist.
THE PRISONS
The narrow cells where the prisoners were locked up now house a historical itinerary that guides the visitor to discover the history of the military site, a strategic place of transit for centuries. Through films, documents and 3D reconstructions of great impact, visitors can follow the architectural evolution of the fortress and get to know the characters who marked the main historical events from the year 1000 to its reconstruction in 1830, up to the present day.
MUSEUM OF FORTIFICATIONS AND FRONTIERS
Located in the Ferdinando Opera, on the first level of the fortified fortress, the museum offers a journey through the evolution of defensive techniques, siege systems and the concept of frontier. Scale reconstructions of wall sections of fortifications, models, films and authentic weapons, allow us to observe the evolution of the fortresses starting from the Roman era up to the twentieth century. The section dedicated to the theme of borders intends to make people reflect on the meaning of this term, in a path that transmits a structured vision of the Bard Fort and of the historical, social, cultural and geopolitical context within which it is inserted in the various historical periods.
Hours: from Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 18.00
Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10.00 to 19.00
The Caffetteria di Gola is open to the public
The ticket offices are open but it is recommended to use the online sales channels
Fort of Bard, 11020 Bard (AO)
Telephone: +39 0125 833811
Internet: www.fortedibard.it Restaurants:
- BISTROT AD GALLIAS: lunch at the welcoming but simple Bistrot with outdoor terrace and marvelous view of the Bard Fortress, meets all the standards of culinary quality and offers a high-level gastronomic offer according to one's own recipes. The simple cuisine embraces both traditional Aosta Valley dishes and those of Italian cuisine. All dishes are carefully prepared and accompanied by friendly service in a friendly and confidential environment.
Via Umberto I, 11020 Bard
Telephone: +39 0125 809878
Internet: www.hoteladgallias.com
- AD GALLIAS GOURMET RESTAURANT: in the Ad Gallias gourmet restaurant, high quality products are combined with sensitivity and imagination to make each dish a pleasant discovery. Traditional dishes are revisited with creativity and linked to the seasonal offer. In line with the current trend, refined dishes for vegans and celiacs are offered. The Petit Ad Gallias restaurant offers culinary delights with the freshest local ingredients of the Aosta Valley tradition, which are elaborated in the chef's famous recipes, to be enjoyed in an elegant internal setting. To best accompany each course, you will also find a cellar stocked with all the most renowned labels of the area and of national production. The maître will be able to recommend the right pairing of wine for each course, in order to enhance the taste and make the culinary experience unforgettable.
Via Vittorio Emanuele II 5/7, 11020 Bard
Telephone: +39 0125 809878
Internet: www.hoteladgallias.com
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