 The Bard Fortress: A trip to the centre of the Alps
Photo (c)
Anna Masiero
The recent reclamation of the Bard Fortress and its hamlet has led to the
establishment of a large cultural center in the centre of the Western Alps.
The fortress, which used to be a closed military building, has now turned
into a space open to the public, describing and illustrating the culture and
the history of the Alps.
The visit to the Fortress represents an ideal journey in time and space,
merging its historic tradition with its educational mission and with the
communicative strength of the Theme Park.
A fascinating exhibition: a journey along the various buildings in the
fortress. There is the Carlo Alberto building with the Museum of
the Alps, the temporary exhibitions, the
“Vallée culture” promo area; the opera Vittorio building with its
museum “Youngsters and the Alps”, the opera Mortai and the
Polveriera building with tutorial labs for school
children; the Opera Ferdinando building with the “Fortress”
and the “Borders” museums
The Bard Fortress.
 Almost intact from the moment of its construction, the Fortress of Bard
represents one of the best examples of early 1800 military strongholds.
The Fortress of Bard is formed of 3 main defence stations positioned
at different levels upon a high imposing rock spur, the lowest at 400m above
ground and the highest at 467m. The Ferdinando Opera is the defense
structure at the bottom, the Vittorio Opera in the middle, and the Carlo
Alberto Opera at the top. There are a total of 283 rooms in the entire
fortress.
The
Ferdinando Opera is a tenaille (pincer-shaped) structure and is
formed of two buildings, the Inferior Ferdinando Opera and the Superior
Ferdinando Opera. Both are presently inaccessible to visitors.
The Mortai Opera with the Polveriera next to it are found behind the
Ferdinando Opera; these two buildings are used for educational workshops.
 Borgo
di Bard - Photo (c)
Imizael
The Vittorio Opera will host The Children's Alps, a highly
interactive museum entirely dedicated to the young. Through playful
activities the children will learn about mythology and take on the challenge
of a virtual climb up Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc). The Museum will be opening
shortly.
At the very top of the rock sits the most impressive of the defense
stations, enclosed by a wall upon which all the buildings are sustained.
Defending the south side is the Gola Opera with its internal
courtyard, and overlooking the north is the Carlo Alberto Opera with
its magnificent Piazza d'Armi, a great quadrangular courtyard surrounded by
a wide arcade. The first floor of the Carlo Alberto Opera hosts the
Museum of the Alps.
On the south side of the fortress there is an external footpath that
leads you into the courtyard of the Gola Opera. There is also an internal
footpath which with its hairpin bends supported by high mighty walls
leads you up the north slope to the Carlo Alberto Opera.
The top of the fortified rock is easily accessible thanks to futuristic
external glass lifts with stunning views, taking you from the medieval
village of Bard at the foot of the fortress right up to the Carlo Alberto
Opera.
The Museum of the Alps
The Museum of the Alps is an itinerary leading to
discovering, interpreting and experiencing the mountains through the five
senses: a people-friendly museum for people of all ages.
The itinerary runs along the 29 halls on the first floor of the Carlo
Alberto building. The tale it tells along the way captures you in a twirl of
sensations, suggestions and emotions. The visit starts with an ascent to
the peak of the mountains with high altitude scenes and landscapes projected
around the visitor. The “mountain symphony”, the all-involving soundtrack of
the museum, accompanies you throughout the visit.
 The entrance corridor
contains an enveloping video-installation by artist Armin Linke; it gives
you the idea of what seem to be alpine pastures, tunnels, jumps and
high-tech skiers that you can see and hear. “Let’s go up the mountains” is
the cry you hear in the “gallery of voices”: a kaleidoscope of Alpine
languages welcoming you to the museum.
You feel like caressing the mythical Dahu, the legendary animal with two
shorter forelegs, suitable for climbing mountain slopes, part of the
fascinating biodiversity of the alpine environment. Show cases, videos,
dioramas and touch-screens show you the climate, the short seasons at high
altitude, the vegetation and the sturdy inhabitants of the mountains.
A 3D video puts wings on visitors: a breathless “eagle flight” takes you
from the peak of Mont Blanc, across the most spectacular landscapes of the
Aosta Valley, amidst glaziers, waterfalls and ancient castles, landing you
on the Bard Fortress.
In the Geography Hall, a spectacular interactive map on the floor allows you
to have a walk on the Alps. Surrounding the hall is the representation of
the most spectacular and unmistakably famous peaks where one can see the
tectonics of mountain building. It is a journey back in time amidst the
phenomena that led to the formation of the Alps and the Dolomites.
There is the reconstruction of the stable, the stove, the school;
interactive videos inform on alpine civilization and culture based on work,
the mills and the mines. Then you find yourself involved in the merry
winter-end celebrations: dancing, fiestas and colorful alpine carnivals
with the procession of “lanzette” - typical Aosta Valley carnival
characters- or the dances of the “wild man”. And lastly there is the
romantic experience of nineteenth century artist-mountain climbers trying to
conquer invincible peaks; and a train trip with ski tourists who crowd the
ski runs. Here are multifaceted mountains to be discovered and experienced
with passion.
More info on the Bard Fortress...>>>
Courtesy of
www.infobard.it
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
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