Salaš

Since the Middle Ages, Salaš properties have been present across the Pannonian lowlands, from Slovakia and Austria to Romania and Serbia (especially in the northern parts such as Vojvodina).

Agrarian reforms aimed at collectivization and arrondissement of land, as well as the emergence of large-scale labour cooperatives and increased production, have marginalized the role of the small-scale salaš.

Agricultural enterprises grouped large cattle stock in smaller areas, as opposed to the extensive grazing land previously used, which were considered unproductive.

The salaš properties functioned as green-white island, the habitats of countless bird species and hiding places for large game.

From primitive earth lodges, half-dugouts, mudhuts, to buildings with complex construction design, with two or tree rooms, with larger or smaller foundation, etc.

Salaš houses were built of natural locally found materials: the walls were raised from beaten mud, or mud-and-hay bricks dried in the sun.

[4] Salaš house positions varied from front facing ones like in Vojvodina villages, or those at the back or at the sides of the owners land.

The stoves were furnaces, where bread was baked, with a cottage being obligatory for the grub, hen and dove houses, barn and other cattle and agricultural constructions.

[6][7][8] In Slovak culture, salaše were remote encampments for shepherds, and eventually came to denote small countryside restaurants established in such houses, providing sheep products and traditional home meals such as bryndzové halušky.