The biggest sheep bell in Poland

ZBYRCOK is back in its place

The biggest sheep bell in Poland – ZBYRCOK is back in its place, i.e. in Hala Skrzyczeńska in the Szczyrk mountain resort. In the language of shepherds, “zbyrcok” is a metal bell that sheep wear around the neck. One version says that Szczyrk was named based on the sounds made by sheep bells, the so called “szczyrkanie”. 

Our giant ZBYRCOK was made of brass sheet in 2018. It is more than 1 metre high and was posing for photographers at the outlook spot in Hala Skrzyczeńska at the altitude of 1,000 metres next to the upper cable car station.

Michal Slowioczek, the resort general manager.

Zbyrcok came back where it belonged, fine-tuned with a new design that refers to the KUFLONKA restaurant, which is located next to it. Refined and even more beautiful, it is now waiting for tourists from all around the world to meet. A photo with ZBYRCOK at KUFLONKA will become another social media MUST HAVE for everybody who visits Szczyrk and Hala Skrzyczeńska. 

ZBYRCOK is not only the symbol of former pastoral culture from an ethnographic museum. The Szczyrk mountain resort has been actively supporting activities focused on restoring the traditional sheep farming in the region for several years. From spring to autumn, flocks of sheep graze meadows which are used by skiers in winter. Traditional sheep farming is the best form of ski piste care which improves the quality of the plant cover on top of it. This triumphal performance of nature is becoming more and more spectacular every year despite human intervention and can be admired from the cable car of Hala Skrzyczeńska and the 6-seater chairlift of Zbójnicka Kopa in summer. 

The Szczyrk mountain resort participated in the project of Karpaty Łączą – Traditional sheep farming, which was carried out between 2018 and 2021. The conceptual project focused on restoration of non-forest biotopes depreciated by long years of investments in skiing with weak grazing and extensive grass mowing for the Szczyrk mountain resort was prepared by the “Nature and the Man” foundation, which specialises in protecting the cultural heritage and restoring traditional activities including sheep farming. 

Szczyrk Mountain Resort cooperates with the Hala Skrzyczeńska Development Company (which owns the flock of sheep) and they organise Sheep Farming Days together every year. The event offers demonstrations of cheese making, sheep shearing, activities for kids and local discussions.