the Iron Mask  

THE MISTERY OF THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK
“The Man in the Iron Mask” Association has been active for a number of years in Pinerolo.  
Its objective is to recall the historical and cultural past of our city, that history knows as the “Most French city of Italy ”.
In three successive epochs, for a total of a hundred and twenty years, it was part of French territory. In one of these periods, that of Louis XIV the Sun King in the 17^th century, it became a fortified citadel and a prison of the state.
Many illustrious prisoners were incarcerated for long periods, one of whom, historically documented, was the famous Man in the Iron Mask.

WHO COULD THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK HAVE BEEN?
In the prison of Pinerolo (then under French dominion) the mysterious character whose face was hidden by a piece of black velvet over which, as Voltaire wrote, there was a mask made of strip of steel, arrived, escorted by D’Artagnan and by his musketeers, on the 24^th of August 1669.
One presumes that he was such an important man that Louis XIV did not have the will to have him decapitated, but so attired, had him go back and forth from one prison to another throughout the realm. From Pinerolo, in October 1681 he was then transferred to the fortress of Exilles where he remained until the 17^th of April 1687. He was then taken for a few days to the ancient castle of Briançon before being transported to another castle, Fort Royal, which is found clinging to the north coast of the island of Santa Margherita, near Cannes, where he remained until the 28^th of August 1698.
Finally he was taken back to Paris and to the cells of the Bastille where he remained until his death on the 19^th of November 1703.
He always had at his side a “Custodian Angel” called St. Mars that kept an eye on him all his life and who, without a doubt, knew the identity of his mysterious prisoner. But he never confided his secret to anyone!
For everyone he was end he is still “The Man in the Iron Mask”.

EVERY YEAR, ON THE FIRST SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OF OCTOBER,
THERE IS A HISTORICAL REENACTMENT IN PINEROLO.
As you can understand, rediscovering a historical and cultural heritage, in which both Italy and France are rich, also means an organised re-proposal of the ITINERARIES and PATHS that were taken by the “Man in the Iron Mask”. All this could offer to our city, and to a public that is interested in Franco-Italian history and culture, an important opportunity and a boost for a local tourism.