Bard lies at the centre of a deep, narrow gorge at the head of the Aosta valley.
This strategic point has been inhabited since the Neolithic period as archaeologists have found several large engraved stones around the area.
It later became a major route between Celtic Gaul and the Roman world of the Italian peninsula.

Today the town has many buildings dating back to the 16th century.
These include the Bishop's House and the House of the Sun Dial.
The Dora Baltea is also crossed by a Medieval stone bridge
Fort Bard, which protects the pass, is built on the site of many earlier fortifications.
In May 1800, it halted an entire French army launching a surprise attack on Northern Italy.
It eventually fell to the division of French general Joseph Chabran on June 1, 1800.
Bard lies at the centre of a deep, narrow gorge at the head of the Aosta valley. This strategic point has been inhabited since the Neolithic period as archaeologists have found several large engraved stones around the area. It later became a major route between Celtic Gaul and the Roman world of the Italian peninsula.
Today the town has many buildings dating back to the 16th century. These include the Bishop's House and the House of the Sun Dial. The Dora Baltea is also crossed by a Medieval stone bridge
Fort Bard, which protects the pass, is built on the site of many earlier fortifications. In May 1800, it halted an entire French army launching a surprise attack on Northern Italy. It eventually fell to the division of French general Joseph Chabran on June 1, 1800.
Bard, Aosta Valley