Marché au Fort - Food and wine event
Resorts: Bard
Village of Bard
10 October 2026 - 11 October 2026
The Marché au Fort is taking place once again in mid-October set in the charming medieval village of Bard, at the feet of the historic Fort. It is the most important and biggest food and wine event dedicated to traditional Aosta Valley products.
The programme of the event is aimed at focusing attention on the various traditional rural products of the region, and will feature a market, as well as information and sampling points where technicians from the production chain will be illustrating the the particular characteristics of the products.
In the town hall square, a refreshment point will offer take-away dishes based on Aosta Valley products.
A free shuttle service will connect from 9.00 am to 19.30 pm parkings along the National Road 26 of Aosta Valley, in the municipalities of Bard and Donnas, with the area of the event.
09:30 - 18:30
- The access to the Marché au Fort in the historical centre of Bard is open and free;
- Visitors, by completing the appropriate Points Card, distributed at the Chambre's information points, will be able to collect, for every 70 euros spent, a Product Check worth 10 euros;
- Entrance to Bard Fort is free during the event days; entrance to museums and exhibitions is chargeable according to the usual rates.
By car: Bard can be reached via the Aosta Valley SS26 state road and the A5 motorway, with exits at Pont-Saint-Martin to the south and Verrès to the north, approximately 5 km and 9 km away respectively.
Motorhome areas: available in the municipality of Bard, in the Liéron area, and in the nearby municipality of Hône, at the equipped campsite area in Raffort, near the town hall along the Ayasse stream.
Due to roadworks on the Dora Baltea bridge in Hône, visitors are advised to reach the Marché au Fort using the peripheral parking areas along the SS26 and, where possible, avoid driving directly to Bard.
Parking and shuttle buses:
A free shuttle service operates from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., connecting the peripheral parking areas located along the Aosta Valley SS26 in the municipalities of Bard and Donnas with the event venue. Additional parking areas are available in Hône, from which the event can be reached on foot. A paid motorhome area is also available in Hône.
Parking areas served by the shuttle bus:
- Bard – Viadotto
- Donnas – Area Ferrero
- Donnas – Crestella
- Donnas – Railway Station
- Pont-Saint-Martin – Industrial Area
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th 2026
- 9:30 am: Official opening of the 22nd edition of the Marché au Fort, featuring the Hône Brass Band. The following groups will perform throughout the day: I Fiour di Moun (from Lillianes); La Clicca de Saint-Martin-de-Corléans (from Aosta); the Compagnia del Coniglio (performing roaming medieval music).
- 11:30 am – 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Free tastings of local products paired with Aosta Valley AOC wines. Reservations available on-site at the information point (opposite the town hall).
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11th 2026
- 9:30 am: Opening of the Marché au Fort, featuring Gaby’s brass band. Throughout the day, the following groups will perform: Compagnia del Coniglio (roaming medieval music) and ASTA – the Palio d’Asti flag-throwing troupe (demonstrations in the village and at the fort, plus performances on the fort’s Parade Ground at 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm).
- 11:30 am – 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Free tastings of local products paired with Aosta Valley AOC wines. Reservations available on-site at the information point (opposite the town hall).
- From 10:30 am until 12:30 pm and from 2:00 pm until 4:30 pm: Small recreational activities at the stand.
Once again this year, the Aosta Valley Chamber of Commerce is promoting local food and wine products through the "Sapori valdostani offerti dalla Chambre" (Aosta Valley flavours offered by the Chamber) initiative. During the two-day event, Market visitors who complete the dedicated points card—available at the Chamber’s information points—will be eligible for a €10 voucher for every €70 spent at the Market. This voucher is valid for use with a single exhibitor.
Note - this information is not directly connected to the Cammino Balteo path but it is part of the Aosta Valley tourist offer.