Renáta Babicova at the Podpolianske múzeum in Detva. (source: Sme - Ján Krošlák)
THIS SUMMER, a small-scale replica of a shepherd’s hut, called a salaš in Slovak, became the new attraction at the Podpolianske Museum (PM) in Detva. It forms part of a permanent exhibition Ovce moje, ovce (Sheep, My Sheep), focused on Vlach Culture in the Podpoľanie region, which opened back in 2009. The exhibition represents the result of a three-year project documenting and presenting sheep breeding in the region below Poľana, a local peak.
The head of the museum, Renáta Babicová, told the TASR newswire that the replica was made according to authentic models at a scale of 3:1 using traditional technology and processes. The salaš, which is displayed complete with figures of shepherds, helpers and sheep, is specifically aimed at children and young people and events for these groups have been organised throughout the year.
The exhibition was first established as a temporary exhibit in 2006; in 2007, a second phase was implemented, which focused on dishware used in salaš and gave space to folk dish-maker Ladislav Slobodník from Podkonice. The third phase, in 2008, was dedicated to the production of bryndza, a typical Slovak sheep’s cheese whose origins can be traced back to Detva. The main idea behind the permanent exhibition is to highlight the origin and lifestyle of the people of the Podpoľanie region and to show that this type of sheep breeding is still alive, both in its material and spiritual form – as proven by folklore artefacts and wood carvings by current Podpoľanie craftsmen.
