The Ribnica Fair

The local handicrafts date back to the 15th century, when a series of poor harvests, constant pressure from the Ottomans, peasant revolts and the like forced the then Austrian Emperor Frederick III to issue the so-called Peddler's Patent. This special privilege allowed people from the Ribnica-Kočevje area to trade in local products without paying taxes. Thus, woodenware handcrafted by the people from the Ribnica Valley started to be sold in different parts of the empire. In local parlance woodenware products are called ‘suha roba’, i.e. ‘dry goods’.
In Ribnica, one of Slovenia's most famous fairs is dedicated to this tradition: the Ribnica Woodenware and Pottery Fair, which is considered a veritable local holiday.