Fenestrelle Fort Book Fair
The major literary event held in the most imposing fortress in the Alps, the heart of the Le Fenestrelle summer season.
About Fenestrelle Book Fair
A book fair inside the largest fortress in the Alps
The Fenestrelle Fort Book Fair is one of the most evocative cultural events in Piedmont. It takes place in Fenestrelle, a small town in the Chisone Valley within the Metropolitan City of Turin, inside the famous Fenestrelle Fort: the largest alpine fortification in Europe, a monumental complex that climbs over three kilometers along the mountainside, from 1,100 to 1,800 meters above sea level.
As the heart of the Le Fenestrelle summer festival, the fair transforms the historic halls of the Governor's Palace into a grand mountain book salon, where thousands of readers gather every summer to browse the shelves and meet authors.
Over 10,000 volumes and author encounters
The Governor's Palace salon features over 10,000 titles, organized by Editrice Il Punto - Piemonte in Bancarella: fiction, non-fiction, manuals, children's books, and a rich section dedicated to Piedmontese and dialect literature. Alongside the exhibition, the program offers book presentations, dialogues with writers and scholars, and opportunities for direct interaction with the public, often hosted in the church overlooking the Parade Ground.
- Exhibition of over 10,000 volumes in the Governor's Palace
- Presentations and meetings with authors, writers, and scholars
- A section dedicated to Piedmontese and dialect literature
- Painting and photography exhibitions, concerts, theater, and re-enactments as part of the Le Fenestrelle festival
Le Fenestrelle: much more than a fair
The Book Fair is not an isolated event: it is the hub of a rich summer season that brings the fort to life for over a month. During the Le Fenestrelle festival, the fortress hosts traveling theater, opera and operetta, cabaret, classical, ethnic, and rock music concerts, historical re-enactments, painting and photography exhibitions, conferences, and initiatives such as Paintings and Masks at the Book Fair and the Romance Book Festival at the Royal Gate.
A place worth the trip
Visiting the fair also means discovering one of the most extraordinary monuments in Piedmont. The Fenestrelle Fort, restored since the 1990s by the Progetto San Carlo Onlus Association, is a symbol of the Chisone Valley and the alpine identity of the Province of Turin. Climbing up to the Governor's Palace with a book in hand, surrounded by mountains, is an experience that combines culture, history, and nature like few other events in Italy.
Fenestrelle Book Fair — edition 2026
The 32nd edition of the Fenestrelle Fort Book Fair opens on Sunday, July 26, 2026, with the inauguration in the Governor's Palace and continues until Sunday, August 30, 2026, following the reopening on August 25.
The salon features over 10,000 volumes curated by Editrice Il Punto - Piemonte in Bancarella, accompanied by book presentations and meetings with writers and scholars. The fair is part of the Le Fenestrelle summer festival, which also offers initiatives such as Paintings and Masks at the Book Fair and the Romance Book Festival at the Royal Gate.
The detailed calendar of 2026 presentations and guests will be published in the weeks leading up to the event: it is advisable to check the official channels of the Fenestrelle Fort and Editrice Il Punto for updates.
Programme Fenestrelle Book Fair 2026
The detailed program of presentations and author meetings for the 32nd edition will be announced in the weeks prior to the event. The usual structure includes:
- Sunday, July 26: Inauguration of the Book Fair in the Governor's Palace
- Permanent exhibition of over 10,000 volumes (fiction, non-fiction, children's books, Piedmontese and dialect literature)
- Cycle of presentations and meetings with writers and scholars, hosted in the Governor's Palace and the church overlooking the Parade Ground
- Collateral initiatives of the Le Fenestrelle festival: Paintings and Masks at the Book Fair, Romance Book Festival at the Royal Gate
- Sunday, August 30: Closing day of the fair
For the updated calendar, visit fortedifenestrelle.it.
Highlights Fenestrelle Book Fair 2026
- Inauguration on Sunday, July 26, 2026, in the Governor's Palace
- Over 10,000 volumes on display in Europe's largest alpine fortress
- Meetings and presentations with writers and scholars
- Le Fenestrelle festival with music, theater, exhibitions, and historical re-enactments
Prices Fenestrelle Book Fair 2026
Practical information — Fenestrelle Book Fair
How to get there
By car: From Turin, reach Fenestrelle along the SS23 road of Colle del Sestriere, ascending the Chisone Valley (about 1 hour and 30 minutes). The Fort is located along the provincial road just outside the town.
By train and bus: Take the train to Pinerolo station, then use the bus lines for the Chisone Valley to reach Fenestrelle.
Admission and information
Access to the Book Fair in the Governor's Palace is generally free; some events of the Le Fenestrelle festival and guided tours of the fort may require a ticket. For schedules, updated programs, and reservations: Associazione Progetto San Carlo Onlus, tel. +39 0121 83600; Fenestrelle Tourist Office, tel. +39 0121 928053; email [email protected] and [email protected].
Tips
The fort is at high altitude: even in summer, it is advisable to bring a jacket. Wear comfortable shoes to move between the halls and the fortress walkways.
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Where does it take place — Fenestrelle Book Fair
Forte di Fenestrelle - Palazzo del Governatore
Strada Provinciale 23 del Colle del Sestriere, 10060 Fenestrelle