The connection with the Bastiani fortress of the "Desert of the Tartars" by Dino Buzzati, was immediate when we visited the Fort of Fortezza (Festung Franzensfeste).
The imposing, severe construction watches over the Isarco valley waiting, like the fortress of the desert, for an enemy that has never appeared and, hopefully, will never appear.

Now it hosts art exhibitions. In particular in one sector the enormous work of the Brenner tunnel is shown and explained.

The structure deserves a stop and a careful visit.

A bit history:
the fort is located where the Isarco Valley meets the Puster Valley at an altitude of about 2,460 ft.
To contrast the Napoleon's expansionist policy, Archduke John of Austria took the decision to build a bulwark to defend the Brenner Pass and consequently Vienna.
The task of designing the fort was entrusted to Franz von Scholl.
The works began in June 1833 and the inauguration of the fort took place in the presence of Emperor Ferdinand I on 18 August 1838, two years later than planned.
The fort is made up of three distinct and independent parts:

• the "Forte Basso" (Talwerk)
• the "Forte Medio" (Mittelwerk or Blockhaus)
• the "Forte Alto" (Höhenwerk)

Despite its grandeur, already in 1949 its usefulness was controversial among military leaders.
After the World War I it passed to Italy and was used as a powder keg by the Italian army until 1991.Then it passed into the ownership of the Bolzano State Property Office.
In May 2005 the Agency rented it to the municipality of Fortezza.
Currently the OPPIDUM cultural organization organizes guided tours, exhibitions and cultural events.

For more info:
www.franzensfeste.info
wikipedia: Forte di Fortezza
www.valleisarco.info: forte-fortezza
wikipedia: Il deserto dei Tartari (romanzo)