THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN FORTS

The Austrian forts of the the Great War on the Trento tablelands. Even if since 1882 the Triple Alliance joined Austria and Italy, since 1908 the Viennese Government decided to build a modern and robust wall on the Italian border: seven armoured forts, on a 30 km line that connected Cima Vezzena to Folgaria Tableland. This was always considered a masterpiece of military engineering which nowadays has become an impressive and fascinatig evidence of the Great War, as well as a historic and cultural heritage - one of the most interesting on the whole alpine chain. All Austro-Hungarian forts (except for those at Busa Verle and Lusérn) were damaged during the World War I but kept intact. Finally, they were demolished in 1936 to extract the iron and steel they contained.

FORTE DI TENNA (Werk Tenna) m. 608

Austro-Hungarian fort. A Defensive work built by the Austrians during the 1800 and used as a military base during the First World War.

FORTE "COL DE LE BENE" (Werk Colle delle Benne) m. 660

Austro-Hungarian fort. It is a fort built by the Austrians in 1890 and used as military base during the First World War.

FORTE BELVEDERE (Werk Gschwent) m. 1177

Fort Geschwent - Belvedere is the only fort left after the demolition occurred in 1936. The King Vittorio Emanuele III, visited this fortress (that had been the most important in the area) in 1935 and ordered to save it, so that also the future generations could remember the past events.

FORTE DEL PIZZO O DI CIMA VEZZENA (Werk Spitz Verle) m. 1908

Fort Cima Vézzena is an example of the Austro-Hungarian constructive skills: indeed, this fortress was built on the edge of a ravine and dug the top of the peak where it was situated, substituting the rock itself.

FORTE BUSA VERLE (Werk Verle) m. 1554

Fort Busa Verle is situated at an altitude of 1554 metres on the hill to the north of Passo Vézzena and was built to bar the way that connects the Val d'Assa to the tableland.

We also recommend to see these forts:

FORTE LUSÉRN O CIMA CAMPO (m. 1550) Luserna

FORTE CHERLE (m. 1445) San Sebastiano Village - Folgaria

FORTE DOSSO DELLE SOMME (m 1670) Dosso del Sommo - Serrada Village - Folgaria

FORTE SOMMO ALTO (m 1613) Dosso del Sommo Alto - Francolini Village - Folgaria

In the area of the plateaus you can also visit the Military Cemetery of Folgaria, Lavarone Slaghenaufi and Luserna Castalto, the station for optical connection of Mount Rust-Horst, the Tactical Command in Virti, the Military Hospital and Cemetery Cherle Fort, the Scala dell'Imperatore ('Emperor's Steps').