The Fort of Mt. Festa is one of the most important Italian military structures of the early 900's in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Included in the defensive system of the Upper Tagliamento-Fella Valley along with the forts of Osoppo, Mt. Ercole and Chiusaforte, it could control possible invasions from the confluence of rivers fella and Tagliamento as well as from Val del Lago. Built in 1910, it was served by a wide 8km military road departing from Interneppo and leading to the mountain top, at 1060 metres ASL.
Unlike other similar installations, the fort of Mt. Fella was never dismantled and it successfully stopped the advance of part of the Austrian-German troops in November 1917. It was led by Captain Riccardo Winderling, who enforced it with two hundred soldiers on 30th October and was able to stop the advance of the imperial army descending from the Alpine valleys for almost a week. On 06th November, when the retreat towards the Piave had already begun, the Fort ran out of ammo and was therefore abandoned.
Despite damages due to weather and collapse, the Fort of Mt. Festa remains one of the most fascinating remains of the Great War in Friuli Venezia Giulia. CAI trail No. 838 and the original military road take to a small plateau at 980 metres ASL, where you can see the first remains of the complex, namely the ruins of some barracks, warehouses and housing for soldiers.
Past the above, the trail continues uphill, where the fort is located. You can immediately spot two armoured batteries (which could accommodate four 149 mm iron-cast guns with their metal cover) and, on the left, two caves used for the lift and as ammo deposit.
Between the two batteries, you can still see the remains of the cable car that used to connect Mt. Festa to Amaro, about 4 kilometres as the crow flies. Continuing your visit, you can see other tunnels before you reach the mount summit, where a building built after the Great War stands. From here, you can access the heart of the fort through some stairs where, despite the collapse, you can see some barracks and the highest point of the lift.
USEFUL INFORMATION
How to get there: from Udine and Tarvisio: From Highway A23, take the exit Gemona/Osoppo and follow directions for Gemona del Friuli/Tarvisio. Continue on road SS13 until the second light and turn left to Via Cavazzo (regional road SR512 "Cavazzo Lake") towards Bordano/Trasaghis, drive across Braulins Bridge on the Tagliamento River and turn right to provincial road SP36 to Bordano. Drive through the town and continue to the intersection with the road leading to Mt. Festa/Mt. San Simeone and leave your car here. From Tolmezzo: from road SS52 "Carnica" turn right to regional road SR512 "Cavazzo Lake" towards Cavazzo/Lago dei Tre Comuni and continue until the intersection with provincial road SP36 to Interneppo. Drive through the town and continue to the intersection with the road leading to Mt. Festa/Mt. San Simeone and leave your car here.
Difficulty level: for excursionists on military road and CAI signalled trail (CAI trail No. 838)
Duration: about 6 hours
Equipment: hiking shoes (dir road), long trousers, water supply, spare clothes and torch for visiting the tunnels. You must be physically fit as this is a long route (the military road is about 8km long).
