The strategic location, which for centuries has determined
Whoever controlled Exilles controlled the entire route between Turin and France. The Val di Susa has been a key valley since antiquity and the fortress has acted as a border guardian, customs and military hub. The first references to the existence of a fortified place date back to the 7th century and since then the fortress has continuously developed, strengthened and adapted to new threats.
A turbulent history full of battles and legends
Forte di Exilles experienced its most dramatic period in the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was repeatedly besieged and passed from French to Savoyard hands and back again. It was then that the famous legend of the "Man with the Iron Mask", who was briefly imprisoned here, originated. Although historians do not accept this hypothesis as a certainty, the story is inherent to the fortress and gives it a mysterious atmosphere that fascinates visitors to this day.
Architecture that amazes with its ingenuity
The fort's current appearance was mainly created in the 18th and 19th centuries, when Fort Exilles was modernised to withstand new types of artillery. The entrance ramp carved into the rock acts as an entrance to the underground base. The long internal corridors, casemates, low passages and high terraces are designed to make the fortress as defensible as possible.
An atmosphere that transports you to the past
Thanks to the reconstruction, the Forte di Exilles is now accessible and looks extremely authentic. The silence of the mountains, the coolness of the stone walls, the steep slopes falling into the valley - all this ensures that the visitthe visit does not feel like a museum tour, but rather a journey back in time to the days when patrols were changed and the fate of the region was decided. The feeling that the soldiers have only recently left is omnipresent.
An ideal stop in the alpine valley of Val di Susa
The fortress is a great destination when travelling from Turin towards the French border or as part of a trip around the valley. It combines well with a visit to the Sacra di San Michele or the giant fortress of Fenestrelle. It forms part of a unique system of Alpine fortifications unparalleled in Italy.
A place worth telling
The Forte di Exilles is one of those monuments that are not on the classic tourist lists and yet can still make a strong impression. Monumental architecture, a history full of drama and legend, an exceptional location and an unmistakable atmosphere. A place to remember.
