Forte Monte
Fort Monte, also called Fort Mollinary, is an Austro-Hungarian fortification located in the Northern Italian province of Lombardy. Monte was built between 1849 and 1852, and was part of the Rivoli-Ceraino group of fortifications.[1][2] Monte had a moat that was 3m and 2-3m wide, and was carved out of solid stone. Within the moat, there was a caponier for flanking fire within the trench. Fort Monte was built “behind” Fort Rivoli and could fire across the Rivoli Plain, or support Fort Rivoli by firing in its direction. To enter the fort, you have to cross over a drawbridge.[1]
Armament
[edit]- 5 12 cm and 21 cm howitzers
- 12 Quick-firing guns
- 2 mortars of an unspecified caliber
Within the fort there was, 5 artillery embrasures on the 2nd floor, with the first floor having 4 embrasures, with 1 facing south and 3 facing southeast.[1]
Post Austro-Prussian War of 1866
[edit]After Italy gained Lombardy in 1866, the fort was renamed Fort Monte, because it resided upon a mountain at an altitude of 410m.[2] Once the fort lost use to the Italians they used it as an ammo magazine. In 1945, the retreating Germans blew up the ammo magazine part of Fort Monte. Today, the fort is in disrepair and is heavily damaged, you can hike to see the fort, but little more than overgrown ruins remain to be seen.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Monte". www.fortificazioni.net. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
- 1 2 "Terra dei Forti". www.terradeiforti.it. Archived from the original on 2009-11-02. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
- Forts in Italy
- 19th-century fortifications
- Military installations established in 1852
- 1852 establishments in Italy
- 19th-century architecture in Italy
- Buildings and structures in Bergamo
- History of Bergamo
- Tourist attractions in Bergamo
- Buildings and structures in Trentino
- History of Trentino
- Austro-Hungarian Army
- Military history of Austria-Hungary
- 1850s establishments in Austria-Hungary