Piemonte Italia

Exilles Città

The built-up area of Exilles rose up around its Fort, erected at the beginning of the XII century with strategic-defensive functions on the overhanging rock which, for several centuries, would have marked the border between France and Piemonte. Contested incessantly between the two States, the Fort was demolished in the eighteenth century and was subsequently rebuilt with the Restoration. In the nineteenth century the village numbered 3,000 inhabitants, including 1,000 soldiers. The municipality flourished with trade and artisan activities, associated for the most part with the necessities of the imposing garrison that lived in the Fort. It was indeed thanks to its demographic expansion that Exilles obtained the recognition of the rank of the “City” by Royal Decree.
Every year the historical commemoration “Exilles Città” leads its visitors into an atmosphere of festivities and work, through nineteenth-century sets and costumes of great fascination. Among the planned events: animation activities at various points of the village with numerous characters in period dress, ceremony of the Royal Decree, Occitan dance and music, scenes of working-class life.