The Open-Air Museum in Sirogojno, Serbia: Between Tradition and Education

Sirogojno is a picturesque village in western Serbia, in the Zlatibor region, known for its rich cultural and craft traditions, especially for wool production. The sweaters and other woolen garments made here are appreciated both in Serbia and internationally, due to their quality and traditional patterns. At the entrance of the Traditional Village Museum, you will find several cottages selling wool products.

This tourist destination attracts visitors not only for its natural landscapes but also due to the open-air museum, which illustrates Serbian rural life. Each building is furnished and arranged to reflect the lifestyle of the villagers from that time, providing an engaging insight into the history and rural culture of Serbia. Frequent festivals and cultural events are held here, celebrating local music, dance, and crafts, offering visitors a complete experience of Serbian heritage.

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The Open-Air Village Museum in Sirogojno takes you on a journey through time, offering a fascinating glimpse into traditional architecture and the way of life in the Zlatibor region. The museum’s beginnings date back to 1980 when authentic items were brought here, near the church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.

Here, you can explore two traditional households that reflect the life of Serbian families from the 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to the houses, which have been transformed into accommodation units, the museum also includes a cozy restaurant, an exhibition hall that brings local traditions to life, and a souvenir shop, perfect for taking home a piece of Sirogojno’s charm. It is an experience that combines culture and nature in an authentic way!

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The first household includes an authentic traditional Zlatibor house, consisting of two parts, with a tall, four-sided roof. Near the main house, there are various buildings, such as the huts where the young people slept, a dairy, a bread oven, a corn barn, and a poultry pen.

The main house, dating from 1882, belonged to the Lazovic family from Alin Potok. It is divided into two rooms: the “house” and the “room.” The “house” has an earth floor, no attic or windows, and was the heart of family life, with a hearth for cooking and performing important rituals. The “room,” smaller in size and elevated with one or two steps from the “house,” was used to receive guests during holidays and for sleeping. It had an earth stove for heating.

The hut with a porch, built in 1890, belonged to the Nikolic family from Alin Potok. It was intended for accommodating the families of married men, with the number of huts varying based on the family size. Initially, the huts had a single bed for the entire family, but as the living conditions improved and the interior became more spacious, chests for clothes were added.

The dairy has a history of nearly a century and was the home of the Dabić family from the picturesque Alin Potok area. This rustic house was exclusively used for processing and preserving milk. Wooden shelves held special troughs where the milk was left to mature, while wooden barrels.

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The second household also features a typical house of the area, with a tall, four-pitched roof. Next to the house, there are outbuildings: huts, a corn barn, a stable, a cellar, and shelves for beehives.

The main house, built in 1891, served as a refuge for the Jovanović and Varničić families from Stublo. It is divided into two rooms, “the house” and “the room,” with an earth floor and no attic. In the center of the “house,” there is the hearth, a rectangular or circular area supported by two stone pillars, where meals are prepared and the family gathers. A place full of tradition, ideal for the special rituals that marked everyday life.

The barn, dating from 1915, was moved from the village of Nikojevići. This building was intended for storing and drying cereals such as wheat, barley, rye, and oats. The grains were kept in separate compartments inside the building.

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The Church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul in Sirogojno is an important place for the community, serving not only as a place of worship but also as a cultural center. Its traditional architecture and the icons created by local artists combine spirituality with art. The church is also a gathering place for community activities, strengthening the bonds between people and promoting a sense of belonging.

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The restaurant is situated in the heart of nature, inside the museum. It serves traditional Serbian dishes, including cheese, sour cream butter (kajmak), prosciutto, and other specialties from Zlatibor. The meals are accompanied by traditional drinks: rakija or vodnjika, and teas made from local herbs.

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The accommodations come in various sizes, with 2 to 5 beds (a total of 29 beds). They are intended for participants in the museum programs but are also part of Zlatibor’s tourism offer.

Operating hours: November 1st – April 1st: 09:00 – 16:00 Rest of the year: 09:00 – 19:00

Entrance fee: 8.5 RON Organized school visits: 6.37 RON Groups (over 10 people): 6.37 RON Family ticket: 21.25 RON

Admission is free for children under 7.

How we got there: 25 km from Zlatibor, 30 minutes.

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Love,

A.C.

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