In the days when people still had no refined sugar, there was hardly a farm in Slovenia that did not keep bees in addition to its other domestic animals. Honey was the only sweetener available, and beeswax was an indispensable material for candle making. Bees were kept in low wooden hives, which were stacked close together in several long rows. These are known as Carniolan hives (Sln. kranjiči). A little wooden house was built for them in a protected part of the orchard, where all the bee colonies were kept under the same roof, protected from snow and cold in the winter and scorching heat in the summer.
Due to certain advantages, these bee houses continue to be extremely popular in Slovenia today, and they enrich the cultural landscape. They have become one of Slovenia’s identifying features, just like churches on the hilltops and hay racks around the villages.
In the mid-18th century, a unique folk art emerged in what is now Slovenia (at that time part of the Habsburg Monarchy) – painted beehive fronts. During that time, rural furniture painting and glass painting were extremely popular. The smooth wooden front boards called out for folk artists to paint various images on them; these can be admired today at the Beekeeping Museum in Radovljica.
Simple bee houses became true outdoor art galleries. Young and old gathered around them and admired the picturesque images depicting historical events, Bible stories, and everyday village life. Painted hive fronts were said to help the bees find their hives more easily, and helped the beekeeper distinguish between the hives and remember which colonies had already swarmed.
Even today one can find individual beekeepers that paint their hives with various motifs. They do not mind spending the extra
time and money because they are guided by a strong love for the bees and a commitment to maintaining the tradition of their forefathers. Copies of old painted hive fronts make attractive souvenirs.