Fort Tre Sassi

The Austrian fort "Tre Sassi", the name of which is disputed by historians and topographers, was built by the Austrians between 1897 and 1901 on the Valparola Pass in the locality "Intrà i Sas". The purpose was to defend Tyrol from a possible advance of the Italian army coming from Cortina d'Ampezzo or Caprile with the aim of continuing towards Val Badia and Pusteria. The construction was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's vast defence plan: in the Dolomite sector, the Austrians had built the forts of Pratopiazza, Lardo Basso and Ladro Alto to bar the Val Rienza; in defence of the Val di Sesto, the forts of Mitterberg and Haideck; in the Val Badia, at the foot of the Col di Lana, the Ruàz slit and the La Corte forts; and at the Valparola Pass, the Tre Sassi fort. The Fort now houses a museum whose rooms, once the quarters of the garrison and artillery depot, now house a rich private collection, which includes numerous war relics and important documentation testifying to the difficult militaristic and civil events of the Great War in the Dolomites. The large collection includes military uniforms, weapons and everyday objects used during the conflict, many of which were recovered from the surrounding area.