Montenars

Montenars, with prehistoric origins, has a rich history. A fort was original built in Roman times, later used by the Lombards. During feudalism, the area passed under the Patriarchate of Aquileia. The lords of Prampero and Rabenstein built a castle on the Roman fortress, which is now being renovated after suffering earthquake damage.

In 1797, Montenars was ceded to Austria and in 1805 to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. After several changes of sovereignty, it regained autonomy in 1947. A devastating earthquake in 1976 led to the reconstruction of the town.

The ancient village of San Giorgio, established by the Lucardi families, features historical architecture dating back to 1700-1800. After the 1976 earthquake, the houses were restored maintaining the typical features of the Friulian pre-Alpine area, with sturdy stone walls and balconies overlooking a shared courtyard.

The symbol of the town is the monumental Church of the Redeemer, built in 1901 and rebuilt in 1985 thanks to local volunteers. The churches of Sant’Elena Imperatrice and San Giorgio Martire, also renovated, continue to represent the spirituality and religious tradition of the community.

In addition to being part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the municipality of Montenars is located within the Ecomuseo delle Acque, a museum spread over multiple sites combining natural water bodies and courses (springs, lakes, streams, rivers) and historical and cultural elements (mills, wells, communal washing areas, dry stone walls) with the aim of their protection and promotion.

It is currently made up of the outlying villages of San Giorgio, Sant’Elena and Santa Maria Maddalena (Flaipano and Cretto).

The area is crossed by several forest tracks that follow the path of the Orvenco stream, featuring pools, fords and waterfalls. Along the way, you can also see the remains of ancient water mills and communal washing areas, evidence of the rural past. The local woods are particularly rich in chestnut trees.

Montenars also features the characteristic roccoli, small circular or oval groves that were once used to capture birds. A two-hour route takes visitors through the four roccoli (dal Puestin, di Manganel, di Pre Checo and di Spisso) on a pleasant walk suitable for all abilities.

A slightly more challenging route is the Monte Cuarnan trail which reaches the Church of the Redeemer located on the summit (1,372 m above sea level), from which there are spectacular views of the region.