Article source: Markus Scherer, Meran with Walter Dietl, Schlanders

“Begun under Francis I in the year 1833 – completed by Ferdinand I in the year 1838”, reads the Latin inscription over the gate of the fortress. In just five years, over 6,000 workers and soldiers built a blocking position at one of the narrowest points in the Eisack valley. It has the dimensions of a small town and, with a surface area of 20 hectares, is the largest fortification in the Alpine region. With this monumental defensive work the Habsburgs hoped to halt the advance of the revolutionary changes provoked by the French revolution.

Public main square (Images Courtesy René Riller)

• Architect: Markus Scherer, Meran with Walter Dietl, Schlanders
• Name of Project: Fortress of Franzenfeste
• Location: Festung Franzensfeste, Franzensfeste, Italy
• Client: Autonome Provinz Bozen
• Project management: Arch. Josef March (main coordinator), Geom. Hans Peter Santer (Project leader), Hbpm Ingenieure – Ing. Julius Mühlögger, Ing. Gunnar Holzer (Project leader)
• Photographers: Alessandra Chemollo, René Riller

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