Fortress of Fenestrelle

The Great Wall of Piedmont

Fortress of Fenestrelle - known as the "Great Wall of Piedmont" - is the biggest fortified building in Europe, one of the most impressive of the world.
Located in the wonderful landscape of the Italian Alps, it includes the three forts San Carlo, Tre Denti and Delle Valli, seven redoubt, two batteries has a total area of around 1.300.000 mq, from the lower part of the valley for more than 3 km and a gradient of 635 meters.

All this elements of the fortress are linked between them by two stairs: the "royal stair", demanded by Carlo Emanuele III, with a length of 2km and 2550 steps and the "sheltered stair", digged in an artificial tunnel of more than 4.000 steps.
The construction of the fortress, started in 1728 for the willingness of king Vittorio Amedeo II to defend Piedmont against France, was ready only in 1850, when it reached the lower part of the valley.

The Fortress is a wonder to discover through amazing walks:

the royal walk, that accomplishes the panoramic Royal stair with its 2.550 steps on the roof of the sheltered stair. From this stair the whole fort can be seen.
the path inside the fort, with a visit of the rooms inside the fortress, is ideal for who wants to learn the histroy and the culture of the fortress and the areas around.
the visit of fort San Carlo, the quickest, focus on just one fort, with a visit to Piazza d'Armi, the church.

Inside the fortress some museums can be visited:

the Governor's embalmed animals' expositions with more than 200 exhibits;
the 3rd reggimento degli Alpini's museum that hosts diaries, pictures and the remainings of the flag saved by general officier Faldella during his imprisonment in Germany in 1944;
the exposition about medieval torture, with more than 60 exhibits like machineries of torture or paintings, printings and engravings.

To be seen around the fort: Priorato S. Giusto, Nature Park Val Troncea, Museo del Gusto in Frossasco, murals of Usseaux, Lake Laux.Production: wooden sculptures, furnitures and traditional objects; zuppa valdese, calhette, tourtel and wines like Ramìe doc, renowned wine of the valley, that comes from the vineyards Avanè, Avarengo and Neretto.

Summer sports: freeclimb, trekking, mountain bike

Winter sports: ski and cross-country ski(Pragelato), ice climbing, sled dog (Prali)