Sauris, Mountain commune in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Sauris is a mountain commune in the Carnic Alps, located in the Lumiei Valley at about 1,200 meters elevation, where two main villages form a small, closely-knit settlement. A reservoir fills the valley and shapes the surrounding landscape.
The settlement began around 1300 when German farmers from the Hochpustertal and Lesachtal regions established themselves in this isolated mountain valley. This origin makes it a remnant of medieval Alpine settlement.
Residents speak Saurano, a local dialect with German roots that has survived for centuries and shapes daily conversations. This language variety connects the community to its distant medieval past and remains an important part of local identity.
The place was accessible only on foot until 1934, when the first road was built over the mountains to Ampezzo, changing how people could reach it. Today it remains a quiet destination suited for exploring the mountain landscape at your own pace.
A dam was built between 1941 and 1948 in the valley, creating a reservoir that fundamentally changed the landscape. This reservoir now defines the appearance of the area and stands as a defining feature of the place.
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