Fenestrelle Fort, Military fort in Piedmont, Italy
Fenestrelle Fort is a fortification system in Fenestrelle, Piedmont, Italy, that runs along three altitude levels on a mountain slope. Three main strongholds connect through a continuous covered stone staircase system.
Construction began in 1728 following a design by Ignazio Bertola and lasted more than a century. In the 19th century the compound served as a prison for political prisoners during the Italian unification movement.
The fort's name comes from Fenestrelle, the village below it in the Chisone valley; the sources give no Latin etymology. Since 1999 the complex has served as the symbol of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and in 2007 the World Monuments Fund listed it among the world's 100 most endangered historic sites. Volunteers of the Progetto San Carlo have run its recovery since 1990.
Several guided tours are available, from short walks through the lower fort to long routes covering thousands of stair steps. Sturdy shoes and some fitness are advisable, as the paths are steep and partly uneven.
Pierre Picaud, imprisoned here under Napoleon, is often cited as one inspiration for Edmond Dantès in Dumas's novel; Dumas himself never visited the fort. The covered staircase inside the complex counts 3,996 steps, with a separate outdoor stair of about 2,500 steps.
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