Forts en Lumière Festival

Make stone sing and light dance: that's the idea behind this new visual arts and sound festival to be held at the Esseillon forts.

Description

The Esseillon forts, a new setting for art.
As part of the Interreg-Alcotra 2021-2027 TransiT project, a partnership between the communes of Aussois and Avrieux in France, and the commune and fort of Bard in Italy, an artistic program has emerged since 2025, and the forts are currently being upgraded. The "Forts en Lumières" festival is both the culmination of the TransiT project and the forerunner of a broader artistic and cultural project.

Whether in ruins or proudly standing, the 5 forts that make up the Esseillon barrier stand out as sentinels of the Arc valley. Built in the 19th century by the Sardinians to defend the Piedmontese border from French ambitions, they were never really used and were incorporated into our borders when Savoie was annexed.
Enhancing the cultural and artistic potential of the Esseillon forts is now at the heart of the economic and tourism stakes for this sector of accessible family resorts: if we are to move towards a more sustainable four-season mountain experience, the forts have a card to play. Fort Victor-Emmanuel (Aussois) and Redoute Marie-Thérèse (Avrieux) are already home to recreational and sporting activities, as well as interpretation areas. Fort Marie-Christine (Aussois) has been converted into a gîte and restaurant.

Additional welcome

• Age minimum : 1 ans

• Age maximum : 110 ans

Environments

• Mountain view
• Mountain location
• Close to GR footpath

Rates

Free of charge.

Opening period

From Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 July 2026 between 10 am and 11.30 pm.

Spoken languages

• French
• Italian

Adapted tourism

• Accessible for self-propelled wheelchairs

Location

By road: From Chambéry, Albertville, Grenoble take A43 Turin/ Fréjus Tunnel Exit n°30 Modane Cross Modane Follow RD 1006 towards Val Cenis for 5 km.
In summer, La Redoute Marie-Thérèse is accessible by public transport (line 1).

Animals

Pets allowed : No