Arlois e Fasois

The Valley of Time tells its story

There is a small village in Carnia where time has a literal meaning: Pesariis, a hamlet of Prato Carnico, is the homeland of Friulian watchmaking, the "Valley of Time" where clock production has its roots in the 17th century and has become famous worldwide thanks to the Solari brand. Every year, on the second weekend of September, this mountain village celebrates its dual soul with Arlois e Fasois — in Friulian "clocks and beans".

Transhumance: the return from the mountain pastures

The festival coincides with the demonticazione, the ancient rite of the herds' return from high-altitude pastures to the valley floor, a moment that has always marked the end of summer in the Carnic valleys. It is an opportunity to talk about the world of mountain pastures, shepherding, and the alpine civilization that has shaped Val Pesarina.

Arlois: the monumental clocks trail

Along the village streets winds the famous Monumental Horology Trail, a unique collection of large open-air clocks, while the Watchmaking Museum preserves the memory of this extraordinary artisan and industrial tradition. During the festival, guided tours of the trail, the museum, and the village's other treasures are scheduled.

Fasois: biodiversity on the plate

On the other side of the festival are the beans, grown in the valley's family gardens in multiple varieties: an authentic manifesto of biodiversity to be preserved. The festival's cuisine offers them in traditional and creative versions, from barley and bean soup to bean jam tart, up to the surprising bean ice cream. There is also an exchange of self-produced seeds, an ancient gesture to preserve local seeds.

A community festival

Organized by the Pro Val Pesarina Tourist Association with the support of the Municipality of Prato Carnico, Arlois e Fasois brings together a market of typical products, folk music, food workshops, and initiatives for children. The result is an authentic festival, capable of showcasing a corner of Carnia where history, craftsmanship, and peasant tradition coexist in perfect harmony.