The only open-air museum on Mt. Zlatibor: In the past, 30 family members lived under one roof

26 kilometers from the center of Zlatibor, there is an extremely unusual place where time seems to have stopped two centuries ago. The only open-air museum in Serbia is located in the village of Sirogojno, and houses that testify to the life of our ancestors have been set up on an area of five hectares. Everything is authentic, ancient and keeps the memories of the people from this area.

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"The museum was established in 1980, when the first structure was transferred from the surrounding villages to Sirogojno. Even before that, there was an initiative to make a specific museum, first on Mt. Avala, and then on Zlatibor, but that idea did not take root. It was opened here, on the initiative of a company that was making sweaters, because Sirogojno was a village that the whole world knew about at the time," Svetlana Djaldovic, director of the Open-Air Museum Staro Selo (Old Village) Sirogojno, told RINA.

Photo: RINA

Within the unique exhibition, there are two rural households and 50 authentic buildings that testify to the way they were built, but also to the way of life of a Serbian peasant. In addition to the specific Dinaric log cabin, covered with shingles, all auxiliary structures that were used at that time are also installed on this sunny glade, making sure that Sirogojno still preserves all the secrets of our ancestors.

"The families of that time had up to 30 members, so the households consisted of a series of facilities that helped them in their daily functioning. There were two rooms in the house, with a fireplace in the middle. Everyone gathered around it in the evening. There were two doors, east and west, that had a symbolic meaning. Everything that was good entered from the east, and everything that was bad went out by the western door. There are also authentic items from that period inside the house, such as baby cribs and dishes," Svetlana reveals.

Photo: RINA

Almost the entire life of Serbs at the time was taking place in the family yard, so there are barns, pens, farming land, dishes for distilling brandy, for baking bread and a dairy facility where housewives made cheese and cream. This unique village is visited annually by about 50,000 people, which is a fantastic number, bearing in mind that people do not come to Sirogojno accidentally, but intentionally.

Photo: RINA

"A good portion of visitors are guests from abroad, Americans, Russians and the French. They are thrilled with what they see here, because this is the first time they encounter these things. There are many of our people who grew up in the country, but then went abroad and when they visit and see what it used to look like, there are often tears and strong emotions. This year, due to coronavirus, we expect that most visitors will be from our country," said the director of the open-air museum.

Photo: RINA

In a second household that is part of the museum, the facilities have been put to use for the museum's programs. The inn and lodgings are unavoidable, as well as the pottery workshop - all done the way it had been done in the past.

Svetlana Djaldovic; Photo: RINA

Photo: RINA

(Telegraf.rs/Rina)