Forte di Vinadio
The Forte di Vinadio (also Forte Albertino ) near Vinadio in the valley of the Stura di Demonte is a tourist destination and venue for cultural events of the Castelli Aperti initiative ( e.g. Open Castles ) in Lower Piedmont and, together with the fortress Fenestrelle and the Forte di Exilles, one of the most important Examples of Piedmontese defenses.
history
Erected in 1834 as a fortress under Karl Albert , it took advantage of a strategic position from which the surrounding valleys on the border with France could be controlled.
The 1200-meter-long walls are connected by ten-kilometer walkways on three levels. 4,000 workers from the Bergamo and Biella areas completed the work in 1847, with a break from 1837 to 1839.
construction
The forte consists of three parts:
- The Fronte d'Attacco , in front of the entrance at Porta di Francia
- The Fronte Inferiore with the Carlo Alberto barracks
- The Fronte Superiore as an artillery position
Another fate
The Forte was not involved in any significant acts of war and in 1862 served as a dungeon for a group of Garibaldini who had fled to the Aspromonte .
During the Second World War it was captured by German troops and suffered some bombardments from the Anglo-American side, the traces of which are still visible. Fleeing German troops blew up some ammunition dumps. After that, the fortress fell into disrepair. Now, after a few restorations, it is open to the public and houses an ice rink and a snack bar in the winter months.
Web links
Coordinates: 44 ° 18 ′ 22.3 ″ N , 7 ° 10 ′ 21 ″ E