Forte di Champlas Séguin

Forte di Champlas Séguin is a mountain fort in Cesana Torinese with a five-sided shape and an underground system of tunnels, gun positions, and barracks. Thick stone walls and defensive ditches surround the main area, though vegetation now covers much of the remaining structure.

Built between 1896 and 1898, the fort was designed to stop potential French attacks through the Montgenevre Pass and guard key entry points into Italy. It was destroyed in 1944 during the Second World War, ending its role as an active defensive position.

The fort shows how Italy built Alpine defensive structures in the late 1800s to protect border areas. Walking through it today, you can see the practical choices made to guard against attacks from the north.

The site sits high in the mountains and requires good physical condition to reach and explore. Paths through the fort are overgrown and uneven, so sturdy shoes and careful footing are necessary.

The fort housed six large cannons positioned to cover nearby mountain passes, allowing defenders to control multiple approach routes from one position. This gun placement strategy made it a key chokepoint for Alpine defense.