Fort Fenestrelle – old fortress overlooking the eponymous town in the territory of the Val di Susa in Piedmont. It's the biggest in Europe Alpine fortress – it is located on the square in 1300000 sq. m. the Fort was built by the French in 1694, the year by the architect Vauban, and between 1728-m and 1850 m years was enlarged and fortified by the Italians. He stands at a height of 1100-1800 m above sea level and protects the road to Turin through the valley of the river Valle. In 1709, the year after the defeat of the French troops, the territory of the Fort was purchased by the Duchy of Savoy, later became the Kingdom of Sardinia.

The history of the Fort Fenestrelle very interesting. In 1694, the year the French General de Catina received permission to build a fortress in Mutan in the valley Valle by the famous military engineer sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. However, in August 1708, the year the fortress was besieged Savoyard army under the command of Victor Amadeus II of the French lasted within just 15 days. In 1713, the year under the Treaty of Utrecht, France officially handed over the Fort, called Fenestrelle, the Savoy dynasty, who immediately ordered to reinforce the structure for his best defense. All fortifications were connected using a 3-kilometer long internal walls and staircases 3996 steps.

The French have for some time used the Fort Fenestrelle as a prison – known among the captives were Josef de Master and Bartolomeo Pukka. It also contained the Pierre Picaud, who became the prototype of Edmond Dantes, the hero of the novel of Alexander Dumas ' the Count of Monte Cristo. Savoury also sent political prisoners here, followers of Mazzini and common criminals.

In 1861, the year after the unification of Italy, about 24 thousand people, mostly soldiers, in support of the Kingdom of the two Sicilies, were sent to Fort Fenestrelle, which, in essence, turned into a concentration camp. Here were locked supporters of Garibaldi and the Pope. Most of the prisoners died from hunger and cold.

In 1882, the year the castle was restored, and after 1887, the year was used as the headquarters of the battalion Fenestrelle Third Alpine regiment. After the Second World war the Fort was abandoned and began to decay, partially, he was dismantled by local residents. Only in 1990, the year began implementation of the project on reconstruction of the Fort Fenestrelle, initiated by a group of volunteers "Progetto San Carlo".