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In preparation for the conflict against Italy, between 1908 and 1914 the Austro-Hungarians built on the plateaus of Lavarone, Luserna, Vézzena and Folgaria seven mighty fortified works: Forte Cima Vézzena, Forte Busa Verle, Forte Luserna, Forte Belvedere, Forte Cherle, Forte Sommo Alto and Forte Dosso del Sommo.
The new Austro-Hungarian fortified works represented the best of military technology of the time. The covering, which could even be thicker than three meters, was made of concrete and reinforced with thick steel beams. Each fort was equipped with small-caliber howitzers (10 cm) placed in revolving steel domes. The close defence was based on several machine guns set in armoured positions. Deep machine-gun-beaten moats surrounded these structures, constituting a passive defense system reminiscent of the typical construction choices of medieval castles.
On the Vezzena plateau the stronghold and observatory Cima Vézzena (1908 m), Forte Busa Verle (1554 m) and Forte Luserna (1549 m) had the function of preventing the Italian advance from the Val d’Assa Valley. In the first months of the conflict, all three forts suffered very heavy bombardment by the Italians, which almost forced them to surrender, but on August 20, 1915 they were able to effectively repel the only Italian breakthrough attempt: a military action that went down in history as the Battle of Bassón, which cost the Italian troops the loss of more than a thousand men.
As already mentioned, Forte Belvedere Gschwent (1177 m) was the central ring of the Lavarone sector and was tasked with countering a possible Italian penetration through the Astico Valley. Although this never occurred, the fort was still subjected to heavy bombardment.
In Folgaria, Forte Cherle (1445 m) controlled the access from the Fiorentini Plateau, Forte Sommo Alto (1614 m) kept the access from the Orsara Valley and that from Passo Coe under control, and Forte Dosso del Sommo (1670 m) controlled access from the Passo Borcola and the underlying Valle di Terragnolo, the approach route to the city of Rovereto.
Their main function was to prevent an attempted Italian breakthrough from Veneto during the first weeks of hostilities and, secondly, to support a possible offensive by Austro-Hungarian infantry directed toward the Vicenza plain. At the same time, on the other side of the border, the Italian army had the same intuition and, in order to defend the Veneto side and counter the Austro-Hungarian forts, were built Forte Cima Verena, Forte Campolongo and Forte Campomolon to contrast the Austro-Hungarian fortresses of the highlands. Other Italian forts were built in more backward pisition, on the Asiago plateau and in the Astico Valley.
After the war the forts were damaged but substantially intact but in 1936 they were demolished and reduced to ruins by the fascist “Ferro alla Patria” campaign and abandoned for decades. Only Forte Belvedere was saved. Partially recovered in the 1980s as part of the creation of the Sentiero della Pace (Peace Trail), all the forts in the Highlands are now destinations for hikes and included in thematic routes such as the 100 Km dei Forti (100 Km of the Forts).
Forte Belvedere a historical adventure within the walls that experienced the war.
information
Contact us
Forte Belvedere-Gschwent Foundation
via Tiroler Kaiserjäger 1
38046 Lavarone TN
Tel: +39 0464 780005 – Phone: +39 349 5025998
direttore@fortebelvedere.org
Please contact from Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 17.00 or during the opening hours of the Museum.
Copyright © 2020 FONDAZIONE FORTE BELVEDERE GSCHWENT via Tiroler Kaiserjäger 1 38046 Lavarone TN P.iva 01738820222
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