Friendship Festival of the Three Borders

A handshake atop the Alps

There is a place, in the Julian Alps, where three nations meet. It is the summit of Monte Forno, at 1,508 meters, where the borders of Italy, Austria, and Slovenia converge. Here, every second Sunday in September, one of the most symbolic and moving events in the Alps takes place: the Friendship Festival of the Three Borders.

Since 1980, a gesture of peace

Since 1980, the three ethnic groups—Latin, Germanic, and Slavic—climb the mountain and shake hands as a sign of peace and brotherhood. A ritual that spans decades and the changes in European history, from the Cold War to the opening of borders, and which today preserves its message intact: one peak, three nations, a single mountain people.

Folklore, music, and the flavors of three countries

The festival is not just symbolic: on the summit, you'll find the typical cuisine of the three countries to savor the best of Italian, Austrian, and Slovenian culinary traditions, local drinks to toast together, and live music. Monte Forno simultaneously belongs to the Municipality of Tarvisio (Italy), Arnoldstein (Austria), and the area of Kranjska Gora (Slovenia).

How to reach the summit

The climb is part of the experience. The summit is reached on foot:

• From Italy — from Fusine, first by car then about 45 minutes on foot
• From Slovenia — from Ratece
• From Austria — from Arnoldstein

In case of bad weather, the festival is postponed to the following Sunday. A unique opportunity to experience the Tarvisio region, the Fusine Lakes, and the meeting of cultures in the heart of Europe.