Fodor's Expert Review Forte di Bard

A few minutes beyond the French-speaking village of Pont St. Martin, you pass through the narrow Gorge de Bard to reach the fortress that has stood guarding the valley entrance for more than eight centuries. Take a series of funiculars up the mountain to see the fort's five fascinating museums: Museo delle Alpi, dedicated to the history and culture of the Valle d'Aosta region; Le Prigioni, an interactive walk through the former prisons; Museo delli Fortificazioni, which looks at defense techniques (fortifications) over the centuries; Museo delle Frontiere, which examines the political, economic, and cultural meaning of borders; and a children's museum, Le Alpi dei Ragazzi. The fort also hosts regularly changing exhibitions featuring contemporary Italian artists. There's also a restaurant with well-prepared local foods, and a hotel if you want to extend your stay.