Places
Viewpoint·Easy·Family·Popular
Forte di Bard
Aosta Valley
Rebuilt after Napoleon's army famously struggled to bypass an earlier fortress here in 1800, the current star-shaped bastion at Bard occupies the entire width of the valley at its narrowest pinch point, controlling every route in and out. Its ramparts and towers, now partly a museum, look straight down the Dora Baltea gorge in both directions. The medieval village clustered beneath the walls has some of the best-preserved stone architecture in the lower valley.
Duration
1.5 hours
Distance
2 km
Elevation
+100 m
Best season
Year-round
Highlights
- Valley-choking Napoleonic-era fortress
- Views down the Dora Baltea gorge
- Well-preserved medieval village
With your dog
Fortress ramparts and courtyards on leash; some interior museum areas may restrict dogs.
