The Summit of Traditional Aosta Valley Crafts

The excellence of Aosta Valley craftsmanship

The Fort of Bard hosts The Summit of Traditional Aosta Valley Crafts every autumn, an exhibition that gathers the award-winning works from the Traditional Craftsmanship Exhibition-Competition held in the summer in Aosta. It is the highest showcase — the «sommet», the summit — of a heritage of manual skills that profoundly characterizes the identity of the Aosta Valley.

A heritage of trades

The exhibited works span various sectors of traditional Aosta Valley craftsmanship: wood carving and sculpture, turning, agricultural objects, wicker basketry, wooden flowers, leather working, wrought iron, stone, toys, furniture, traditional costumes, period footwear, and copper objects. Each piece testifies to a technique and a history, the result of the work of artisans who preserve ancient gestures.

A living tradition in the Municipality of Bard

Set up in the exhibition spaces of the fortress — in the past also in the former military chapel — the exhibition has free admission and represents a precious opportunity to get to know Aosta Valley «savoir-faire» up close. In the evocative setting of the Municipality of Bard and its Fort, visitors can discover how traditional craftsmanship remains a fundamental identity element of Aosta Valley alpine culture to this day.