TheExilles Fort (Italian:Forte di Exilles[ˈfɔrtedieˈksil,-eˈɡzil];French:Fort d'Exilles[fɔʁdɛɡzil]) is a fortified complex in theSusa Valley,Metropolitan City of Turin,Piedmont,Northern Italy. Together with the nearbyFort of Fenestrelle and theForte Albertino (at Vinadio, in theprovince of Cuneo) it was part of the defensive line between theHouse of Savoy lands (later of theKingdom of Italy) andFrance: both these states held it in different phases depending on the outcome of the various wars. It is located on a spur commanding one of the narrowest sections of the Susa Valley, along the main road connectingTurin to France.
The first mention of a fortified structure in the place dates from the 7th century, when a chronicler of theAbbey of Novalesa wrote of a fortification on the spur overlooking Exilles, perhaps destroyed by theFranks. Starting from 1155, the fort was held by the Bermond family ofBesançon,counts of Albon, who owned the road passing near it and leading to theMonginevro Pass.
The first description of the castle dates from 1339: it had a quadrangular plan with more towers, quite different from the massive structure visible today. Between 1494 and 1496 it was used as an ammunition depot byCharles VIII of France, who enlarged the main entrance and enrolled peasants of the area to defend it. In the 16th century it was further reinforced with more towers underCharles II of Savoy. In 1541 it was again under French rule, though, according to theTreaty of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559), it was reacquired byEmmanuel Philibert of Savoy. In 1591 it was recaptured by the French after a short siege, but two years laterCharles Emmanuel I of Savoy took it back and strengthened it, in particular on the side facing the upper Susa Valley.
In 1595, after a month-long siege, it was again in French hands. The Savoyards would receive it back only in 1708, after theWar of the Spanish Succession. In this century the French strongly rebuilt the fort. In 1720 the Piedmontese revised it under the direction of military engineerIgnazio Bertola. In 1745, during theWar of the Austrian Succession, the French attacked the fort, but were pushed back.[1]
WhenNapoleon Bonaparte conquered Italy in the early 19th century, the fort was demolished. It was rebuilt in 1818–1829, updating the pre-existing architecture to more modern military concepts. The fort belonged to theItalian Army until 1943, after which it was abandoned. In 1978 thePiedmontese Regional Authority acquired it and launched a restoration program. The fort was opened to the public in 2000, housing theMuseo Nazionale della Montagna (National Mountain Museum) and occasional exhibitions.
The famous historical character known asL'homme au masque de fer (TheMan in the Iron Mask) spent some years captive in the fortress jail.
45°05′54″N6°55′55″E / 45.0983°N 6.9319°E /45.0983; 6.9319
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