Bard
Edited by:
Maurizio Bergamini
Last Visit: 12/10/2024
Introduction
A municipality in the lower Valle d'Aosta, characterised by a very small area (3 square kilometres), but famous throughout history thanks to the presence of the fortress that since the Middle Ages has dominated the rocky outcrop that bars, almost to the point of complete closure, the Dora Baltea valley.Description
Information sheet
Area: 3.03 square km
Altitude: 400m
Maximum elevation:
Number of inhabitants: 132
Name in dialect:
Inhabitant name:
Patron Saint:
Internet site:
Webcam:
Neighbouring municipalities: Arnad, Donnas, Hône
Villages and hamlets:
Landscapes:
Description
A municipality in the lower Valle d'Aosta, characterised by a very small surface area (3 square km), but famous throughout history thanks to the presence of the fortress that since the Middle Ages has dominated the rocky outcrop that bars, almost to the point of completely closing off, the valley of the Dora Baltea.
The first traces of anthropisation date back to the end of the Neolithic period, to become more and more numerous in Roman times and even copious in the Middle Ages. During this period, in fact, there was a castle-fortress, the seat of a lordship, with a village at its base, which is still preserved along the ancient road axis of the Roman 'road to Gaul'. Although the lordship proper came to an end in 1242 with the rebellion of Ugo di Bard, the fortress maintained its strategic and military importance for centuries. In May 1800, even Napoleon's army found it difficult to overrun it, halting its advance for a fortnight. The French general did not forget the episode and had the fort dismantled, then rebuilt between 1830-1838.
Naturally, the strategic importance of the fortress diminished over the years until it disappeared altogether, as did the commercial importance of the village, which was bypassed by the new road around the base of the fortress.
Today, an attempt is being made to revitalise this unique ensemble with imposing restoration work that began with the transfer of ownership of the fort to the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta.
The first traces of anthropisation date back to the end of the Neolithic period, to become more and more numerous in Roman times and even copious in the Middle Ages. During this period, in fact, there was a castle-fortress, the seat of a lordship, with a village at its base, which is still preserved along the ancient road axis of the Roman 'road to Gaul'. Although the lordship proper came to an end in 1242 with the rebellion of Ugo di Bard, the fortress maintained its strategic and military importance for centuries. In May 1800, even Napoleon's army found it difficult to overrun it, halting its advance for a fortnight. The French general did not forget the episode and had the fort dismantled, then rebuilt between 1830-1838.
Naturally, the strategic importance of the fortress diminished over the years until it disappeared altogether, as did the commercial importance of the village, which was bypassed by the new road around the base of the fortress.
Today, an attempt is being made to revitalise this unique ensemble with imposing restoration work that began with the transfer of ownership of the fort to the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta.
A municipality in the lower Valle d'Aosta, characterised by a very small surface area (3 square kilometres), but famous throughout history thanks to the presence of the fortress that since the Middle Ages has dominated the rocky outcrop that bars, almost to the point of complete closure, the Dora Baltea valley. The first traces of anthropisation date back to the end of the Neolithic period, to become gradually more numerous in Roman times and even copious in the Middle Ages. In this period, in fact, there was a castle-fortress, the seat of a lordship, with a village at its base, which is still preserved along the ancient road axis of the Roman 'road of Gaul'. Although the lordship proper came to an end in 1242 with the rebellion of Ugo di Bard, the fortress maintained its strategic and military importance for centuries. In May 1800, even Napoleon's army found it difficult to overrun it, halting its advance for a fortnight. The French general did not forget the episode and had the fort dismantled, later rebuilt between 1830-1838. Naturally, the strategic importance of the fort diminished over the years until it disappeared altogether, as did the commercial importance of the village, bypassed by the new road that goes around the base of the fortress. Today, efforts are being made to revitalise this unique ensemble with imposing restoration work that began with the fort's transfer of ownership to the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta.
The territory
The itineraries
What to do...
Information
Superficie: 3,03 kmq
Altitudine: 400m
Maggior elevazione:
Numero abitanti: 132
Nome in dialetto:
Nome abitanti:
Santo Patrono:
Sito internet:
Webcam:
Comuni confinanti: Arnad, Donnas, Hône
Villaggi e frazioni:
Alpeggi: