Like elsewhere, rural architecture has left a strong mark in the Notranjska region as well. We have been left with some architectural evidence describing the life of former generations. In addition to mills and sawmills, we can also find hayracks, fruit-drying huts, wells and more. Even some of the houses and homesteads are preserved practically unchanged – some are still thatched.
The first houses in the Notranjska usually had three rooms: kitchen, a living area called hiška and a small bedroom called kamra. Through the years, these rooms changed – black kitchens came out of fashion, bakers' ovens were replaced by stoves, and in the course of time, the kitchen became the centre of the house. After 1960, three-part windows were installed in homes, whereas thatch was replaced by clay tiling soon after 1900.
Also preserved are a few granaries, which functioned as farm pantries. In granaries, farmers usually stored flour and grains downstairs, whereas meat and lard were kept upstairs. Cellars were used to store potatoes and similar produce.
In the Notranjska region, several hayracks of different shapes are also preserved. In the past, they were used for drying crops, but today their usage differs, ranging from storages to regular garages.
Number of hayracks on Cerknica plain: | 24 |
Origin of Herblan granary: | mid-19th century |
Origin of Fužine (Ironworks) in Grahovo: | early 19th century |
Life expectancy of thatched roofs: | up to 60 years |