UNESCO recognises Lipizzan horse breeding & beekeeping tradition in Slovenia as intangible cultural heritage

The decision of including the beekeeping tradition in Slovenia and the tradition of Lipizzaner horse breeding in Slovenia and 7 other countries to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was made at the committee's session in Morocco's Rabat today. The traditions thus join the Škofja Loka Passion Play, the Shrovetide Kurentovanje custom, bobbin lace making and dry stone walling as the examples of heritage in Slovenia on UNESCO's representative list.

Upon this occasion, the Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB), MSc. Maja Pak, commented: "We are pleased that UNESCO has recognised the value of two more Slovenian nominations and thus further confirmed the importance of Slovenian cultural heritage on the international level. Slovenian tourism is building a story of authentic, sustainable and innovative experiences for the discerning guest. Experiences based on our own unique cultural heritage are an indispensable part of this story. Thanks to the natural and cultural diversity of our destinations, we can create such experiences all across the country. They allow us to attract guests who appreciate and want to learn about our way of life, history and culture in a respectful way, whole year around. Slovenia's natural and cultural heritage is already respected and preserved, but we would like to see authentic cultural elements highlighted even more in the tourism offer in the future, and to be able to present them in even more innovative ways to both domestic and foreign guests."

Both bids were coordinated by the Slovenian Culture Ministry. The bid on the beekeeping tradition, entitled Beekeeping in Slovenia, a Way of Life, was based on intangible cultural heritage units that were entered on the Slovenian list of registered units of intangible heritage units including beekeeping, painting of beehive panels, mobile beekeeping, production of beehives and apiaries, breeding of Carniolan honey bee queens, apitherapy, production of wooden models, gingerbreads and licitars. After United Nations had declared World Bee Day to be celebrated on the birthday of the pioneer of modern apiculture, Slovenian apiarist Anton Janša, less than five years ago, this is another great recognition of Slovenia and its rich beekeeping tradition.

The renewed bid of Lipizzaner horse breeding tradition, filed by Slovenia on behalf of eight countries - Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Slovakia was also confirmed by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Slovenian Culture Ministry, which coordinated the bid, said that the Lipizzaner horse breeding had played a symbolic role in all eight countries for centuries and still represented many communities today. The bid included a broad spectrum of cultural and social practices, knowledge and skills, as well as oral traditions, celebrations and equestrian sports related to Lipizzaner breeding.

Back to news