Fort Landro

The fort consists of two parts, a high and a low-lying area. The lower part was built in 1884 and changed in 1891. The upper part was built between 1878 and 1894. The two parts are connected to each other by means of a tunnel. Across the road there are several smaller fortifications. The fort is part of the great system of fortifications in Austria to the Italian border. The fort was build to prevent an attack in the direct of Toblach and to counter a breakthrough in the wide Pustertal.

The fort is situated at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. The lower part was bigger, had three floors and had three 100-mm howitzers in armored turrets (model M 99) and four 90-mm guns (M 75/96). The upper portion was smaller and more compact. The armament consisted of three 120-mm guns in armored casemates (model M 80) and two 90-mm guns (M 75/96).

During the war the fort was considered useful by the Austrian Army Command. It was therefore partially dismantled. The artillery was put out to create better firing positions. The fort was used as headquarters by the local commanders. During the war it was taken under fire a number of times by the Italians, but it has little to no serious damage. On the wall of the lower part is a large red cross, you would think that this indicates that the fort was used as a hospital but this is not correct. This cross was painted on for the film about Ernest Hemingway, "A Farewell to Arms".

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