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Les Forts de l'Esseillon, Aussois

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Castle · Historic Site

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Les Forts de l'Esseillon were built between 1819 and 1834 with pressure from Austria who wanted protection through the mountains. They are significant because they improved the mountain pass from Piedmont.

Other outside forces also had their say; Italy wanted the forts destroyed when they signed the Treaty of Turin, but France ordered the opposite and had the forts preserved. However, in 1943 their labors became ironic when one of the forts was converted into a prison. You will see these hotly contested series of forts erupt from a rocky lock. They are a historical mark on the mountain face and serve as a grand reminder of the multiple borders criss-crossing the Alps. Arrange to visit Les Forts de l'Esseillon and other attractions in Aussois using our Aussois route website.

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166 reviews

By Sophie-de-Savoie

We went on holiday in the village of Aussois last summer. It is a little village in the mountains, in Parc de la Vanoise. we have 2 teenagers, and we like trecking a lot. We discovered the forts of...

We went on holiday in the village of Aussois last summer. It is a little village in the mountains, in Parc de la Vanoise. we have 2 teenagers, and we like trecking a lot. We discovered the forts of... more »
By 653taniaa

We spent a full day here at Les Forts de l'Esseillon. Family of 4, 2 boys 12 and 8. We thought we would take them for a hike up to the hill forts but on arrival we discovered there is the most...

We spent a full day here at Les Forts de l'Esseillon. Family of 4, 2 boys 12 and 8. We thought we would take them for a hike up to the hill forts but on arrival we discovered there is the most... more »

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