Forte Varisello, Military fort at Mont-Cenis pass, France.
Forte Varisello is a pentagonal mountain fort at 2,118 meters (6,950 feet) altitude on the Mont-Cenis pass. The structure spans two levels with vaulted casemates and overlooks the lake and surrounding peaks.
Italian forces built the fort in 1877 to guard Val di Susa from French threats. French control came after the 1947 Paris Treaty redrew the border.
The fort represented military power in a remote mountain setting. Its design shows how armies of that era used high-altitude positions to control borders and assert their presence in frontier lands.
A 20-minute walk from Mont Cenis dam leads to the fort along marked trails. Access is typically open from mid-May through early November, depending on weather and mountain conditions.
The fort has underground rooms carved into the mountain for ammunition, powder storage, and supplies. These chambers kept military resources protected from attack and the harsh mountain weather.
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