Fortifications in the Northern Alps – France, Switzerland, Italy. Volume 1

The history of fortifications in the Northern Alps traces the origins of military works in the mountains and their foothills that marked the boundaries of the highly fluctuating territories at the heart of Europe — principally those of the House of Savoy.

It will be noted that the architecture of these forts evolved with advances in artillery, and that the original counties — made up mostly of large valleys — shifted beyond the mountains in 1713 and then completely in 1860 to form Piedmont-Sardinia and ultimately a united Italy.

The Swiss cantons that signed peace with the Kingdom of France in 1515 united into a great Helvetic Confederation and built powerful fortifications from the 19th century onward in order to uphold their neutrality. A constant military principle would thus endure among the three countries: in the mountains, terrain commands. The technical and strategic descriptions confirm this fundamental rule of engineers and army generals: "he who holds the heights holds the lowlands".

Drawing primarily from French archives, the 740 pages of these two thoroughly documented volumes — featuring more than 2,000 illustrations — synthesise the major periods of fortification in Europe as well as the emblematic fortified sites of the greater Northern Alps region, at the crossroads of three countries: France, Switzerland, and Italy.

Coffee-table book: 25.0 cm × 34.5 cm × 3.4 cm