The fort was originally constructed with a 'caponier' design to provide flanking fire along the pass.
On the day of its destruction in 1915, the fort's commander had already evacuated the garrison due to the heavy caliber of the Italian guns targeting the site.
Many of the items on display were unearthed from the nearby Marmolada glacier as it receded over the decades.
The fort is part of a wider network of WWI sites in the Ampezzo Dolomites, including the nearby Cinque Torri open-air museum.
The structure serves as a dedicated center for the study of the 'White War' (Guerra Bianca), referring specifically to combat in high-alpine glacial environments.
Forte Tre Sassi is a restored Austro-Hungarian fortification located at 2,168 meters on the Valparola Pass. Built in 1897, the fortress was designed to defend the border against the Kingdom of Italy. It was destroyed by Italian artillery fire on July 5, 1915, during the first months of World War I. The Lancedelli family purchased the ruins in the 1990s and meticulously restored the structure to house an extensive collection of WWI artifacts. The museum focuses on the extreme conditions of high-altitude mountain warfare in the Dolomites. The collection includes weapons, uniforms, equipment, and personal letters recovered from the surrounding trenches and tunnels. The museum remains a privately owned initiative managed by the descendants of the restorers.
The exterior viewing point facing the Sass de Stria mountain provides the best perspective of the fort's defensive positioning.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes as the stone floors and surrounding trails are uneven.
Bring a warm jacket even in mid-summer, as the interior of the stone fort remains significantly cooler than the outside temperature.
Combine your visit with the short hike to the nearby tunnel systems where front-line soldiers lived.
Do not attempt to climb or enter unstable, non-restored ruin segments surrounding the main museum area.
Open only during the summer season; typically closed from late autumn through spring due to snow conditions on the mountain pass.
