Shepherds

The shepherd's community on Velika Planina in Slovenia is a tradition that's been kept alive for more than 500 years.

The shepherd's community on Velika Planina in Slovenia is a tradition that's been kept alive for more than 500 years. Around 20 families move to the mountains during the summer months for economical reasons as the valley lacks food for their animals. To avoid buying fodder for their cattle, they move to the mountains. The settlement is located only an hour drive from the capital city, at 1600 meters above sea level, where the everyday life begins at dawn and finishes at sundown. Most shepherds cannot survive only on farming, so they do their jobs in the valley during weekdays. The settlement is mostly occupied by older members of the families and their grandchildren, who spend their summer vacations helping them.

© Jost Franko - Cottage on Velika planina is seen through the curtains.
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Cottage on Velika planina is seen through the curtains.

© Jost Franko - Shepherds eating a meal in the morning, after goading the cattle from the valley to the mountains for the whole night.
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Shepherds eating a meal in the morning, after goading the cattle from the valley to the mountains for the whole night.

© Jost Franko - Shepherd tries to rush one of her cows behind the fence.
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Shepherd tries to rush one of her cows behind the fence.

© Jost Franko - Shepherd is goading the cattle in the morning.
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Shepherd is goading the cattle in the morning.

© Jost Franko - Image from the Shepherds photography project
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Young boy is trying to get the calf into the barn in the evening. Children and youngsters spend their summer vacations helping their families in the mountains.

© Jost Franko - Shepherd and his granddaughter are seen at the front yard of their cottage.
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Shepherd and his granddaughter are seen at the front yard of their cottage.

© Jost Franko - Image from the Shepherds photography project
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Young shepherds standing in front of their cottage during their summer vacations, where they help their families with the cattle.

© Jost Franko - Young boy is seen getting crushed between two cows, after trying to tie them in the barn.
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Young boy is seen getting crushed between two cows, after trying to tie them in the barn.

© Jost Franko - Shepherd stands at the pastures after goading the cows.
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Shepherd stands at the pastures after goading the cows.

© Jost Franko - Image from the Shepherds photography project
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An older shepherd goads the cattle early in the morning. The shepherds community is more than 500 years old and it is mostly settled by older people, so other members meanwhile younger members of the family works in the valley.

© Jost Franko - Image from the Shepherds photography project
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Shepherd is seen holding an alcoholic beverage which is offered to the younger members of the family who spent the whole night goading the cattle from the valley to the mountains.

© Jost Franko - Shepherd is walking back towards the settlement after mowing the pasture.
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Shepherd is walking back towards the settlement after mowing the pasture.

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