Napoleonica, the Napoleon's Army at the Fort of Bard
Resorts: Bard
Bard Fortress and borough
02 June 2023 - 04 June 2023
The village and the Fort of Bard will host respectively the French and Austro-Piedmontese camps with entertainment activities directly involving the public. A small market with Napoleonic themed objects (vintage prints and original memorabilia, historic costumes, toy soldiers, artisans, etc.) has been set up in the streets of the medieval village.
The most spectacular re-enactments include the simulation of the attack on the Fort, which takes place several times during the day and at nightfall, speed races for riflemen and military parades.
The large parade ground of the fort will host on Saturday evening, the Grand Bal des citoyens: the audience can attend and participate in traditional dances, accompanied by the performance of Franco-Provençal tradition music.
The revival of the final battle, with the grouping of troops in the fortress and the surrender of the Austro-Piedmontese to the French attack, will end the commemoration on Sunday afternoon.
This event aims to become an international reference point in the context of historical re-enactments.
- L’ingresso giornaliero alla manifestazione è di 8,00 euro.
- Il biglietto di Napoleonica dà diritto all’ingresso ridotto a mostre e musei.
- Gratuito bambini 0-10 anni
Friday 2nd June 2023
- From 4.00 pm in the historical centre: open taverns, games for children, itinerant music, period settings
Saturday 3rd June 2023
- From 10.00 am, in the Fort: historical market;
- Opening of the camps and of the exhibition Napoleon in the historical documents of Ceva and Moretta;
- 10.30 am: great parade of the troops from the camps to the Army Square of the Fort;
- 11.45 am: official opening of the event, deployment of the troops;
- 4.00 pm: pitched battle in the countryside of Hône;
- 7.30 pm, in the historical centre: start of the Gran Bal des Citoyens, Franco-Provençal music and dance;
- 9.30 pm: re-enactment of the attempted night passage of French soldiers and cannons in the historical centre;
- 10.15 pm: pyro-musical show, simulation of fires and shelling;
- afterwards, in the historical centre: Gran Bal des Citoyens, open cellars and songs;
- 00.00 am: curfew
Sunday 4th June 2023
- From 10.00 am in the Fort: historical market, opening of the camps;
- 10.30 am in the Army Square: skill competition between riflemen, itinerant music, period games;
- Marbot Trophy: itinerant trial for re-enactors on horseback;
- 11.30 am in the Stables of the Fort: demonstration of military medicine;
- noon in the Army Square: rifle competition and Marbot trophy award ceremony;
- 2.30 pm: re-enactment of the siege and final attack on the Fort;
- 4.30 pm in the Army Square: taking of the fort, regrouping of troops, signing of the surrender
Note - this information is not directly connected to the Cammino Balteo path but it is part of the Aosta Valley tourist offer.