The Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, managed by the Ministry of Culture, with Slovene ethnographic Museum as the Coordinator responsible for preparing proposals for inscription on the list, already includes 133 units of intangible cultural heritage.
In April and early May 2025, 5 new units were added to the Register: Close-to-nature cultivation and use of meadow orchards, Making Bizeljsko buckwheat cake, Breeding of Karst shepherd dogs, Breeding of the Ljutomer trotters and Shrovetide rounds of animal characters.
Close-to-nature cultivation and use of meadow orchards
Close-to-nature cultivation and use of meadow orchards are based on the traditional fruit production. The knowledge and skills involve the preservation of old meadow orchards and the planting of new ones, the cultivation (maintenance) and propagation of fruit plants, and harvesting, storage, and processing of fruit with minimum waste.
The element of the intangible cultural heritage has a lot of bearers who are, due to the large number, not being inscribed in the Register. The initiative for inscription in the Register was submitted to the Coordinator by the Javni zavod Krajinski park Goričko.
Making Bizeljsko buckwheat cake
The Bizeljsko buckwheat cake is a moist savoury cake made from unleavened buckwheat dough and cottage cheese filling, and shaped like a rolled loaf. Housewives from Bizeljsko prepare it according to local recipes on festive occasions.
The unit has one registered bearer – Društvo kmetic Brežice. The initiative for inscription in the Register was submitted to the Coordinator by thePosavski muzej Brežice.
Breeding of Karst shepherd dogs
Indigenous to Slovenia, the Karst shepherd dog has been bred here since the 1920s. The breed carries the genetic code of its ancestors, which helped shepherds in the Karst protect their livestock from predators. The Karst shepherd dog is also a very loyal guard dog, protective of its human family.
The unit has three registered bearers – Kinološka zveza Slovenije, Društvo ljubiteljev in vzrediteljev kraških ovčarjev Slovenije in Klub kraških ovčarjev Slovenije. The initiative for inscription in the Register was submitted to the Coordinator by the Kinološka zveza Slovenije.
Breeding of the Ljutomer trotters
The Ljutomer trotter is easy to train and is noted for its gentle personality, endurance and speed. Today, these horses are bred by private breeders from across Slovenia.
The unit has one registered bearer – Kasaški klub Ljutomer. The initiative for inscription in the Register was submitted to the Coordinator by the Kasaški kljub Ljutomer.
Shrovetide round of animal characters
Shrovetide rounds of animal characters and groups are a Shrovetide custom, characteristic of Ptujsko Polje, Dravsko Polje, Slovenske Gorice, and Haloze regions. The characters are symbolic representations of animals, such as the horse, bear, and chicken. They wish people abundant crops and good health for their animals, while the bear entertains the spectators.
The unit has one registered bearer – etnološko društvo Markovci. The initiative for inscription in the Register was submitted to the Coordinator by the Občina Markovci and Etnološko društvo Markovci.