Napoleonica, the Napoleon's Army at the Fort of Bard
Resorts: Bard
Bard Fortress and borough
31 May 2025 - 02 June 2025
The Fort of Bard goes back in time with Napoleonica, the great historical reenactment of Napoleon Bonaparte's passage and his troops in May 1800. The French Reserve Army, descending from the Great Saint Bernard, invaded the Aosta Valley and besieged the Fort of Bard, which after two weeks surrendered, but with honor.
Over 300 reenactors in costume, horses, military camps, and artillery bring the siege of the Fort back to life. A spectacular and immersive event, with parades, drills, and activities open to the public, to rediscover the history and atmosphere of Napoleonic Europe at the foot of one of the historical symbols of the Aosta Valley.
This event aims to become an international reference point in the context of historical re-enactments.
Saturday 31 May 2025
Access to Napoleonica: pitched battle, night-time re-enactment in the village and access to the Fort for the Gran Bal des Citoyens with fireworks display €8.00 per person (flat rate); Free (0/10 years)
Access to the Fort and exhibition spaces during the day: according to the usual rates
Traditional dinner: first course, second course and dessert (drinks not included) €25.00 per person;
Sunday 1st June and Monday 2nd June 2025
Access to Napoleonica + entrance to the Fort + 2 exhibition spaces of your choice:
€12.00 full
€10.00 per person (discounted rate, groups of min. 12 people – affiliated and over 65 years)
€6.00 per person (19/25 years)
Free (0/18 years)
Access to Napoleonica + entrance to the Fort + all museums and exhibitions:
€24.00 full
€12.00 (19/25 years)
Free (0/18 years)
SATURDAY 31 MAY 2025
Morning
- 10:00 am: opening of the camps in the Village and at the Fort
Afternoon
- 2:00 pm: opening of the historical market with Napoleonic objects
- 4:00 pm: parade of the troops for the entrance to the battlefield in Hône
- 4:30 pm: pitched battle in Hône with re-enactment of clashes between French troops of the Armée de Réserve arriving from the Great Saint Bernard pass and the Austro-Piedmontese troops defending the Fort
Evening
- 7:00 pm: return of the troops to the camps
- 9:00 pm: village and square of Bard - re-enactment of the nocturnal attempt to cross the village: skirmishes, shelling, light show and immersive storytelling
- 10:00 pm: ascent with parade towards the Piazza d’Armi of the Fort and Gran Bal des Citoyens, music and dances of the Napoleonic French tradition
- 10:30 pm: fireworks display (visible from the top of the Bard Fort in the direction of Donnas)
- midnight: curfew
SUNDAY 1ST JUNE 2025
Morning
- 10:00 am: opening of the Village and Fort camps; opening of the historical market with Napoleonic objects
- 10:00 am: parade of the troops from the camps and from the Village towards Piazza d’Armi for the official deployment
- 10:30 am: raising of the Piedmontese/Austrian flag at the Fort – French and Austrian artillery salutes
- 11:00 am: Piazza d’Armi: skill competition between riflemen
- Village: compulsory recruitment
- Fort and Village: Itinerant music, games for children
Afternoon
- 2:30 pm: departure from the square of the village of Bard: deployment and start of the final battle with re-enactment of the clashes between the French troops of the Armée de Réserve arriving from the Village and the Austro-Piedmontese in defense of the Fort
- 4:30 pm: capture of the Fort, regrouping of the troops, signing of the surrender with honors of war, lowering of the Austro-Piedmontese flag and raising of the French flag
Evening
- 7:00 pm: Piazza di Gola - Literary aperitif - Presentation of the volumes: “Racconti” by Jacques Martinet and “Napoleone Bonaparte. La Leggenda (Assedio al Forte)” by Massimo De Muro
- 8:00 pm: Historical dinner and Gran Bal de la Victoire
- Spectators and re-enactors at dinner in the imposing Piazza d’Armi
MONDAY 2 JUNE 2025
- 10.00 am: Opening of the Village and Fort camps
- Opening of the historical market with Napoleonic objects
- 10.30 am: historical excursion excursion along the paths used by Napoleon's vanguard soldiers to get around the obstacle of the Fort. In the presence of hiking guides and re-enactors, enriched by historical readings and testimonies
- 11.00 am: Chappe Telegraph demonstration
- 11.30 am: pistol duel demonstration followed by military medicine demonstration
- 1.00 pm: lowering of the flag and closing of the camps
See also
Note - this information is not directly connected to the Cammino Balteo path but it is part of the Aosta Valley tourist offer.