During the First World War it was feared that the Germans would violate Swiss neutrality and invade Italy from the north.

As a countermeasure, General Cadorna oversaw the building of an Italian version of the Maginot line.

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Almost the entire network, extending intermittently for hundreds of kilometres from West to East, was built by local people out of stone.

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It is a testament to their workmanship that the majority of the Cadorna line is still intact.

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In fact this is one of the few places where you can walk along perfectly preserved First World War trenches, clamber through tunnels and explore gun placements.

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There is an immense network of trenches, military roads and fortifications waiting to be explored as well as bunkers, gun emplacements and buildings in a truly mammoth construction project involving tens of thousands men and women.  

We have picked four sites which are particularly interesting and easy to reach.