Museum of bells
"I have never intended to collect the bells and hide them from other people. I've always wanted traditional objects, beautiful things connected with the lives of our people, to remain in Šumiac instead of getting lost around the globe "- says Mikuláš Gigac, a well-known Slovak folklorist, musician and singer. And a collector of bells and jingle bells.
It started with a gift from his grandfather in the form of six bells. They fascinated him so much that he started to systematically collect small bells for sheep and large bells for cows and horses, tin cans and jingle bells with a beautiful ringing sound, which is heard throughout the area when grazing.
The collection gradually grew in Mikuláš Gigac’s hands. Currently it contains about 2,000 bells and jingle bells. Hence, the renovation of his grandparents’ wooden cottage. He then found a place for other objects used by herdsmen, shepherds and people in Slovakia in the cottage. But there are also some crafted goods from other countries in Europe, America, Asia and Australia.
