Europe

[Visited: September 2016]

We have been enjoying the landscapes of the Zlatibor region: driving through its valleys, we saw a waterfall, had great views from the top of the green hills. We also passed traditional houses in this quiet region where, it felt, not much had changed in the last century. Then, we arrive in Sirogojno, which has an open air museum which we decide to check out. Traditional buildings from all over the region have been transported here, and exposed on a 5 hectare stretch of land on the fringe of the village. We get a map which turns out to be useful, and start on an anti-clockwise exploration of the museum grounds. One of the remarkable small sheds we see, turns out not to be a shelter for dogs, but a sleeping hut small enough to be mounted on sledges and moved on snow for the shepherd to follow his animals.
We walk from house to house, building to building; some can be entered, others are just there to give an idea of what they looked like. They all come with explanations for their history and usage. There are corn cribs and pigsties, there is a bread oven, there is a fruit drying shed, there are stables, cottages, there are houses dedicated to the production and storage of alcoholic drinks. All buildings are made of sturdy wood. Some have secret hiding spaces, all are quite dark inside. Larger houses have a big stove in the middle: on one side, they could be used for cooking, on the other, living side of the house, they provided necessary warmth in the cold Serbian winters. The museum grounds are surrounded by orchards, and there are fine views of the surrounding landscape.
Started in 1980, the Old Village Museum has been declared a monument of culture of exceptional importance, and as such will protect the heritage of the Zlatibor region in the future. One of the things I liked most, is that I recognized several buildings and utensils from my run early that same morning: apparently, those museum pieces are actually still in use in the outside world. There are several workshops to be had in the museum, as well as a restaurant, and it is even possible to stay in some of the traditional houses, but we are here only in transit. So we pass the ladies knitting sweaters, selling jams and other local stuffs, and are on our way to another region of the country.

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Sirogojno village museum (Serbia)

Sirogojno village museum > Serbia > Europe

[Visited: September 2016]

Around the World in 80 Clicks