The Builder's Trail on foot

Name: The Builder's Trail on foot
Address: RD 215F Parking Fort Charles-Albert, Aussois, 73500
Telephone: 04 79 05 99 06
Price range: Free access.

Aussois

You are builders of the Forts of Esseillon in 1815, on the gargantuan project
launched by the King of Piedmont-Sardinia. Your mission: To guard against
French invasion, you must build five forts in just 15 years!

Description

It's not by chance that the Forts de l'Esseillon were built here! Built on a glacial
lock at the entrance to the vertiginous Arc Gorges, their role is to protect the
border and prevent French troops from passing through.
As you follow the trail that connects the five constructions, you'll be astonished
by the ingenuity of those who designed and built these walls. All along the
path, you'll come across reading tables that explain how such constructions
were built according to the principles of the Marquis de Montalembert.
Structured like a small village, Fort Victor-Emmanuel invites you to stroll
through its labyrinthine alleys. You'll get a glimpse of what it was like to be
a soldier in those days as you explore the various buildings that shaped their
everyday life: chapel, hospital, gunpowder factory, and even... prison and
cemetery! It can't have been fun all the time... But luckily, that's no longer
the case, as there are now a wide range of activities on offer at this fortress,
truly one of a kind in France.

Equipment

Public WC
Parking nearby
Race

Additional welcome

The duration of hiking trails is calculated using reference paces: 300 m/h ascent, 500 m/h descent and 4 km/h on the flat.

As hazards may occur at any time on the routes, the GPX tracks provided are not contractual. They are given for information only. Riders use them at their own risk, depending on their level of technological proficiency and their understanding of the terrain.