The culture of beekeeping in Slovenia is serious business, and neighborhood beekeepers have developed systems for making honey production easier, more efficient, and even beautiful. Most use a type of beehive known as the AŽ hive. This involves a particular design for each hive that allows them to be stacked together. The bees come and go from the front, and the beekeeper takes the honey from the back. Stacking those hives builds walls, which become a building, sort of a bee shed, which shelters the hives (and the keeper) from the weather and allows them to stay warm.
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The particular Slovenian innovation that really draws our attention is the custom of painting the front of each hive. This began so that the bees will recognize their own hive among the dozens stacked together. We now know this is not necessary, but it has become tradition. These painted front panels, called panjske končnice, sport bold primary colors with folk art added. They are quite unique, and are often sold as souvenirs. Some are hundreds of years old. See more of these beehives and read their story at Atlas Obscura.
(Image credit: strudelt)
Source: neatorama