Sausal

The Sausal is a small mountain range in the south-west of Styria, Austria. It rises from the northern banks of the Sulm valley west of Leibnitz. The highest point is the Demmerkogel at 671 metres. The area has a Mediterranean-type microclimate, which helps its extensive vineyards thrive. These vineyards form the basis of the local economy alongside tourism. The hills were once dense forest, home to deer and boar, before settlers began clearing land. Archaeologists uncovered a Copper Age settlement near St. Nikolai im Sausal in 2004. The name Sausal first appeared in 970 when Emperor Otto I granted land between the Sulm and Laßnitz rivers to the Archbishop of Salzburg. Bavarian settlers later arrived and turned much of the forest into farmland, introducing wine growing by the 12th century. Salzburg nobility established estates to control hunting and wildlife. Wine culture peaked in the 17th century before declining until recent vineyard plantings. The Sausal hillsides now attract weekend residents and new vineyards. A local tradition is the Klapotez, a wooden bird-scaring device resembling a windmill. The microclimate allows figs and kiwifruit to ripen in sheltered spots, and sweet chestnut trees grow wild. Saint Theresa’s Chapel, built in 1834, stands on a prominent summit and offers panoramic views of the upper Sulm valley. The chapel’s fresco by Franziska Ceski von Ferrari depicts the Virgin Mary surrounded by saints. Nearby villages like Kitzeck and St. Nikolai im Sausal are popular with visitors.