Fortificazioni Ticinesi

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The Fortificazioni Ticinesi (ForTi, Ticino fortifications) are a cross-border INTERREG project that relates to the border area between Switzerland and Italy . The historical fortifications on both sides of the border form a connecting element in this region.

The project started in 2009 encompasses the border regions Ticino- Lombardy and Ticino- Piedmont . In 2012, the regional economic development agency “Bellinzonese e Valli” (ERS-BV) took over the management of the Swiss sub-projects.

Fortress hiking trails

The project, which is supported by cantonal and federal funds, comprises ten themed courses along existing official hiking trails. The aim is to upgrade the most important fortifications in Ticino from the founding days of the modern Swiss Confederation. The fortress hiking routes are to be linked with the existing tourist offer and thus made known, as well as with their own website, downloadable apps, printed information brochures and information events.

The hiking routes are signposted with white signposts and provided with information boards at the beginning and at the most visible points, as well as with object boards at the respective location of the facilities. The information boards are provided with route descriptions and an overview of the objects on the respective course. The object boards next to the military buildings or in their immediate vicinity provide detailed information on the individual fortifications.

The routes are divided into two categories, Italy and Switzerland:

Italian fortifications

The four courses of Italian fortification in Mendrisiotto and Basso Ceresio are dedicated to the First World War . One route leads to fortresses on Italian territory.

  • Loopholes between Monte Orsa and Monte Pravello

  • Entrance to an artillery stand on Monte Orsa

  • Entrance to an observation post on Monte Orsa

  • Forte Montecchio Nord, Colico

  • Monte Campo dei Fiori, Varese province

The Mendrisio district forms the southernmost zone of the Canton of Ticino. The Mendrisiotto headland is surrounded by the Italian provinces of Como and Varese . Access from Ticino is via the dam bridge over Lake Lugano near Melide , built in 1847 .

The Swiss Army regarded this area as a so-called open battlefield that was not fortified. On the Italian side, the border area belonged to the Italian defense system of the Cadorna defense line (280 km from the Aosta Valley , Mont Dolent ) to the Valtellina ( Stilfserjoch ), which was fortified from 1904 to protect its own borders from possible attacks that passed through Switzerland and beyond the Alps could have led to protect.

The section of the Gotthard Railway from Melide to Chiasso could be controlled from the system on Monte Orsa , west of the Mendrisiotto . The Monte Bisbino and Sasso Gordona facilities to the east consist of observation posts and gun emplacements made of limestone caves. The Sighignola facility was able to dominate Lake Lugano from Lugano to Porto Ceresio.

Ticino fortifications

The seven courses in the areas Luganese - Bellinzonese - Gambarogno and Alto Ticino lead to the restricted areas of national importance in southern Switzerland.

Fortifications in the Lugano region

Infantry plant Cima di Lago A 2017

The Luganese extends around Lake Lugano and with the Vedeggio Valley northwards to the Monte Ceneri Pass. The southern part is strategically insignificant, while the mountain range of Monte Ceneri and Cima di Medeglia form a natural fortress.

With the construction of the main road over the Monte Ceneri, the area had to be fortified to prevent a military march through to Bellinzona . From 1910 infantry bases and artillery plants as well as the Monte Ceneri and Isone arsenals were built on the Monte Ceneri – Alpe del Tiglio line. During the Second World War , the Gola di Lago blocking point was added as the southern arm of the line.

Fortifications in the Locarnese - Gambarogno region

The Lago Maggiore is a preferred waterway that the Alpine valleys of today's Canton Ticino and since ancient Mesolcina with the Po valley connects. Shipping lanes and road routes near the shore were used as access routes for troops from the Po Valley in the event of an invasion of Ticino in the direction of Central Switzerland . As early as the First World War , the southern front on the north ( Gordola ) and south slopes ( Magadino ) of the Magadino plain was fortified as the western part of the defense system of the Gordola – Monti di Medeglia – San Jorio pass line.

Fortifications in the Bellinzonese e Valli region

Forte Airolo, connecting tunnel to the Gotthard tunnel

The Bellinzonese e Valli region stretches from the northern slope of Monte Ceneri and from Lake Maggiore through various valleys to the Alps, where the valleys lead to Alpine crossings that have been used as paths for people and goods since ancient times. The strategic importance of these areas is related to the mastery of the transport routes.

The eastern part of the defense system of the Gordola – Monti di Medeglia – San Jorio pass line forms the San Jorio pass at the easternmost end of the Morobbi valley , which leads to Lake Como in Italy.

During the Second World War, an anti-tank line (Lona line) was built south of Biasca to prevent the advance towards the Gotthard and Lukmanier passes .

To protect the Gotthard tunnel , the first large fortresses were built in the Gotthard area at the end of the 19th century ( Forte Airolo , Fort Hospiz ). Other fortifications were added during the First and Second World War, such as the blocking point on the San Giacomo Pass.

literature

Web links

Commons : Fortificazioni Ticinesi  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ ForTi - Linea Cadorna (Ticino Lombardia, 2009; PDF; 958 kB)
  2. ↑ ForTi e Linea Cadorna (Ticino Piemonte, 2010; PDF; 3.6 MB)
  3. ↑ Gallery tour: Linea Cadorna: Monte Orsa, Monte Grumello
  4. ^ Leisure friends : Monte Orsa
  5. ^ ForTi: History