Ostrnice (traditional hay-drying racks)

Until recently, the cultural landscape of Loška dolina was characterised by ostrnice (traditional hay-drying racks). In technical terms, these are merely tools for drying hay, but symbolically, they are part of the identity and pride of Loška dolina.

Dotted densely across the fields of Loška dolina, the ancient appearance of the ostrnice gave the landscape an idyllic character that has inspired numerous artists. Ostrnice bear witness to a vital life force and the connection between the farmer and the land, reflecting a sense of belonging to one’s native soil and nation.

The lopped tops of spruce or fir trees are fixed into the ground and artfully surrounded with semi-dried clover, hay, or even sheaves of grain or beans. Stacking the ostrnice was a demanding task with a precisely defined procedure passed down from generation to generation.

You can witness a demonstration of stacking ostrnice at the traditional ethnological event ‘In the Land of Ostrnice’ in mid-June; however, they now stand proudly in the fields in only a few places, most often around the villages of Dane, Podgora, or Šmarata.