Sauris: the highest municipality in Friuli, the pearl set in the Carnic Alps and its beautiful Lake of Sauris, adrenaline-pumping activities and typical ham

Sauris: The Highest Municipality in Friuli is a Hidden Gem Among the Mountains That Will Truly Surprise You

With its enchanted lake of Sauris, thrilling activities, and exceptional cuisine, Sauris is the authentic village you absolutely must visit!

Today, we ventured far north and high up on the map, almost at the Austrian border. I had heard so much about Sauris, and honestly, I couldn’t wait to take my time exploring this village to see if the rumors were true.

Sauris, or Zahre in German, is a small municipality with about 400 inhabitants, consisting of two villages: Sauris di Sotto at 1,215 meters above sea level and Sauris di Sopra at 1,390 meters above sea level.

It was only a few decades ago that a winding mountain road was built, allowing access to the village by car—a route that is already a small adventure in itself for both drivers and motorcyclists.

The Road and Lake of Sauris

Sauris is reachable by car by first passing through Tolmezzo and then Ampezzo, a colorful village where the winding mountain road begins, leading all the way up to Sauris.

You’ll know you’re almost there when you catch sight of the first breathtaking wonder that awaits you—Lake of Sauris!

A true marvel nestled among the mountains, with incredible photo spots overlooking the water! I had never seen such an extraordinarily turquoise lake before! The only place I had ever seen a similar shade of blue was on one of the most beautiful beaches in Cuba, in the Caribbean—I never expected to find it here, so high up in the mountains!

The German-speaking Linguistic Island

Linguistic islands are very small and autonomous language communities within a different linguistic area that have developed for various reasons.

I was certainly intrigued by the legend I briefly mentioned at the beginning of this post, but according to historical sources, the origins of this linguistic peculiarity can be traced back to the ancient settlement of families from Tyrol and Carinthia.

Remarkably, their language has remained unchanged over time, without being influenced by external contamination: an ancient dialect of Eastern Tyrol that bears little resemblance to modern German and contains numerous terms from archaic German.

Even if you speak German, understanding it here can be quite difficult!

But don’t worry—everyone here also speaks Italian, and you’ll quickly notice that in this wonderful place, people will greet you with a smile as you walk by!

Traditional Food of Sauris

The local delicacy is undoubtedly Sauris’ raw ham, seasoned with mountain herbs and smoked using a traditional method with three fireplaces burning beechwood.

It has a very distinctive flavor, which pairs wonderfully with local cheeses and the artisanal beer produced here: Zahre Beer.

The Wolf Prosciuttificio  is the producer of this fantastic ham, and I highly recommend stopping by their shop to pick up some delicious products to take home!

Every year, in mid-July, the Prosciutto Festival is held over two weekends: the upper and lower villages come alive with market stalls where you can taste the famous prosciutto, speck, gnocchi, cheeses, desserts, and even purchase pieces of authentic local craftsmanship.

If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend Frico Friulano, a simple but incredibly tasty dish found almost everywhere in the region. It’s made with cheese (usually Montasio), onions, and potatoes, cooked like a frittata but crisped on each side to create a crunchy crust. It’s then served in slices, almost like a pizza! A real treat!

Besides Frico, Friulian wine is also excellent, and in many taverns and frasche (rustic wine bars), it’s also very affordable.

If you still haven’t had enough of Prosciutto crudo, another must-visit destination is San Daniele del Friuli, in the province of Udine.

Sailing and Zip Line Over the Lake of Sauris

Sauris’ Albergo Diffuso organizes canoeing trips and courses, offering a unique experience on these calm waters.
To book a sailing experience, click here.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, you can try the Zip Line over the lake—a truly breathtaking experience and one of the most thrilling in Italy: 2.5 km of flight over a truly unique panorama!

The starting point is located at the Zip Line office, next to the Bier Khelder agriturismo brewery.

For more information, click here: https://ziplinesauris.com/volo-sul-lago/

Continue Your Journey in Friuli Venezia Giulia

To keep exploring Friuli Venezia Giulia, check out the charming village of Pesariis, known as the town of clocks, located just a few miles from here.

Or visit other picturesque villages in the region: Colloredo di Monte Albano, Venzone, Fagagna, Spilimbergo, San Daniele del Friuli, Aquileia

Sauris is truly a hidden gem waiting to be discovered! Will you add it to your travel bucket list?

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