Old Village Sirogojno Staro Selo Sirogojno
“STARO SELO – OLD VILLAGE SIROGOJNO”, an Open-air Museum in Sirogojno village, on the surface of 15 ha presents the architecture and interior design of historical structures and buildings, as well as the authentic rustic homestead and family lifestyle of the mountainous Zlatibor Mountain region in Southwest Serbia and vast woodland of the Dinara Mountain area from the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
24 km away from famous Zlatibor tourist resort, along the curvy picturesque road which passes by tiny and sleepy hamlets scattered in beautiful landscape, the Staro Selo Sirogojno Open-air Museum in Sirogojno is the only of that kind in Serbia.
The first processes of transfer, rebuilding and reconstruction of Zlatibor cottages to the museum site of Staro Selo Sirogojno were realized in 1980 by the plan of an architect Ranko Findrik, and the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments of Republic of Serbia.
The initial idea of the Staro Selo Sirogojno project has been originated by the Sirogojno organization of domestic works and diligent locals. Staro Selo Sirogojno was realized later on with the persistence of Dobrila Vasiljević – Smiljanic and engagement of ethnologist Bosa Rosic, various republic cultural institutions and other partners.
The Staro Selo Sirogojno – Sirogojno Old Village consists of around forty wooden structures made of wooden logs and massive beams that were transferred to Sirogojno from the neighboring villages on Zlatibor Mountain. In the course of time, the monumental complex of the Saint Apostles Peter and Paul`s church from the 18th century and the Staro Selo Sirogojno Open-air Museum were placed under legal protection of Republic of Serbia as a cultural asset and is declared as a cultural monument of exceptional importance.
Old village of Sirogojno Open-air museum contains of authentic wooden chalets, cooper’s workshop, stable, black-smith`s workshop, bakery, dairy, taverns… Accommodation in provided in wooden chalets that usually consist of 1 or 2 bedrooms, bathroom, some of them feature kitchen and dining room and fire place, and some of them also have porch, for those who wish to sit outside.
Many interesting art happenings, assemblies and cultural events are held in Staro Selo Sirogojno for years, like exhibitions of handmade knitted materials from Zlatibor region, summer workshops of traditional crafts (pottery, weaving, mosaic making or painting) and folklore and music workshops.
Visitors of Staro Selo Sirogojno can have lunch called “srpska trpeza” (meals prepared in old-fashion way and eaten with wooden spoons) or “Lunch at grass” outside in nature surrounding, eating from ceramic dishes by wooden spoons.
For announced groups we organize visit to the Knitters Museum including an unique presentation of traditional handcrafts of the famous Sirogojno Style Company, followed by tasting of various dried fruits and jellies and jams of the Sirogojno Company – largest Serbian exporter of wild fruits produces – raspberries, cranberries, strawberries, blackberries…
Only 24 km away from Zlatibor, “Staro selo Sirogojno” Open Air Museum is the only one of that kind in Serbia and certainly worth-visiting, and one of our favorite destination, often used in our numerous tours.
Guests staying in Staro Selo Sirogojno are delighted to visit the open-air exhibition of ancient wooden cottages representing authentic way of life of Zlatibor Mountain inhabitants from the 19th century, as well as various interesting natural and cultural sights : Stopic’s Pecina Cave – Stopica Pecina, Church in Dobroselica, Medieval White Church in Karan, and Church of Holy Peter and Paul from the 18th century /within the Staro Selo Sirogojno complex/.
Every guest is warmly welcomed in traditional way : pogača (bannock), salt and homemade rakija (brandy) served by children dressed in folk costumes. Visitors can have lunch called “srpska trpeza“ (meals prepared in old-fashion way and eaten with wooden spoons) or “Lunch at grass” outside in nature surrounding, eating from clay dishes by wooden spoons.
Activities : handcraft and old-crafts workshops, nature exploration, hiking, trekking, biking along fragrant meadows and forests, picking-up medicinal herbs, speleology, meeting with locals, culinary courses…
