Forte di Bard

Bard, Aosta — A Village of Cribs and Christmas Magic Our visit to Bard yesterday was genuinely enchanting. Beyond the striking presence of the fortress, the entire village had been transformed into a living Christmas exhibition. Along the narrow streets and stone corners of the town, we encountered hundreds of Nativity cribs — each one different, each one telling its own story. The creativity on display was exceptional. Some cribs were traditional, others modern; some crafted from wood, stone, metal, fabric or recycled materials; some modest, others remarkably elaborate. Several were clearly part of a friendly local competition, while a few stood out for their originality — including cribs ingeniously placed under water, creating an unforgettable visual effect. Adding to the festive atmosphere was the Santa House, which brought warmth, joy and a sense of childhood wonder to the entire experience, making the visit especially memorable for families. Bard, during this season, is not simply a place you visit — it is a place you experience. The combination of history, community spirit and artistic expression creates an atmosphere that is both uplifting and deeply authentic.

The castle is beautiful, no doubt there. However, we wanted to take a quick walk within the walls, and there is unfortunately no ticket allowing you to just stroll around. You have to purchase a ticket for 12e which allows you to enter 2 out of 6 available exhibitions/ “museums”. Maybe it would not be that frustrating if a couple in front of us wasnt allowed to enter for free by stating “we only came for a walk” in italian. We checked the japanese exhibition which was rather mediocre, not much to learn from it. We would appreciate some story behind and more descriptions behind the pictures. The other exhibitions was the prisons which was more interesting - you can see the real prison rooms and how the castle was evolving over time.

19th-century fortress, part of the fortifications of the Aosta Valley. The fortress is well maintained and houses a rich permanent exhibition (about forts and fortresses throughout history), as well as interesting temporary exhibitions. Entrance tickets: - €12 for visiting the fortress itself and two exhibitions - €24 for visiting five exhibitions Both tickets include access to the lifts. The ticket price is absolutely worth it.

Have you even been to Valle d’Aosta if you haven’t visited Forte di Bard? The structure is just impressive in its size and location! Inside is pretty bare, but the museums and exhibits are super interesting.

So much to see here! There are 5? main buildings, each housing different museums and (temporary, rotating) art exhibits. Costs €12 to visit 2 of any things of your choice or €24 to visit everything. But you can visit all the exterior fort for free! This is definitely worth it if you want a quick look and get a good view from the top of the Fort. If you want to visit the museums, you'll need a few hours to spare! Our 2 choices were both in the Carlo Alberto building (at the top). We did the Museum of the Alps which has SO MUCH to see, and quite the diversity of history and information. This took us 2 hours and we didnt look too closely at half of it. Could definitely take 2-4 hours depending on your interests. Absolutely 1 of the best ways to spend a solid chunk of your day here. 2nd, we did the prisons downstairs in the same building. This was cool but much quicker (like 30 mins). It was a toss up between the prison and the Ferdinando building at the bottom.. unsure what all that offers or the time it takes to visit. In total we spent about 3 hours here, and could have spent much longer if we got the full package. Lots of history here and offers a neat view of the valley. I would recommend it, but again, you'll need time if you want to visit any museums. I personally didnt care to visit any of the art exhibitions. From what I've gathered, they kind of have nothing to do with the Fort itself, so didnt seem worth any of my 2 choices.

I must have travelled the freeway below this massive fort controlling the narrow passage between the steep and dangerous mountain sides more than a hundred times over the past 30 years without reflecting on what you might find inside. This time I took a day trip from home in Switzerland with the aim to discover this surprisingly interesting place steeped in history lasting over 800 years. It's now owned and administered by the region of Aosta and houses 6 museums, a large museum shop, a cozy 11 room hotel and restaurant as well as a café. If you buy a simple entrance ticket you will access two exhibitions of your choice, if you want to see all six museums, the price is about double the ordinary entrance fee. There is ample parking around the castle, the near-most being paying. Access is either via an ingenious series of funiculars or by foot on a winding road. Avoid visiting on a busy day not to spend your time waiting to access the funicular system. I came on a Friday afternoon mid May 2025 and was surrounded by 15 year olds trying to learn Italian history, not the most serene situation. You do need a full day to fully appreciate the place so I will come back to spend a night here before touring the premises.

Large fortress that underwent some restorations after the Napoleonic era. Today it hosts museums, exhibitions and events that combine ancient history and modern art; slow-paced walks, also enjoying the surrounding nature, in contrast with the highway and the nearby town. The Ferdinando museum houses numerous cannons and weapons that tell the story of the many conflicts that have characterized this place. It is recommended to purchase the ticket on abbonamentomusei.it to visit all the castles and sites of the Aosta Valley. Dogs allowed inside it carrier. Paid parking.

The fort is beautiful but the visits inside are a bit confusing. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions. Obviously you can choose only one with the standard ticket. I recommend the alpine museum, it is really rich. The photo section is especially amazing. However, I find the village Bard and looking to the fort from the outside a more special experience.