There was folk music, dance, good food, fun and plenty of sheep as Jezersko, a valley nestling among majestic mountains of northern Slovenia, held its 64th Shepherds' Ball on 11 August.

One of the oldest heritage festivals in the country, the annual event celebrates the area's sheep herding tradition, culminating as shepherds wearing traditional costumes drive their herds from mountain pastures back to the valley.

Visitors were able to see how life used to be lived in the mountain and the work involved in the processing of sheep's wool, from hand shearing to spinning, knitting and sock-making.

Both the performers and visitors danced to live pop folk music and enjoyed local dishes prepared in the traditional way over open fire.

Made of sour and sweet cream with a bit of buckwheat flour, "masunjek" is one typical dish that shepherds would eat, preferably with some sour milk.

The žganci buckwheat flour dish with sauerkraut is another traditional dish that remains popular today, as are the freshly fried "flancati", or angel wings, which used to be served on festive occasions only.

The festival is organised by the Jezersko Tourism Association, the Inn at Lake Planšar, the Jezersko Cultural Association and the Association of Breeders of Jezersko-Solčavska Sheep.

The main attraction is the Jezersko-Solčavska sheep, one of Slovenia's indigenous breeds. It takes its name from Jezersko and Solčava, two neighbouring municipalities on the border with Austria where this type of sheep was bred in the largest numbers and in the most organised way.

The local sheep won awards at international livestock exhibitions in Paris in the second half of the 19th century, taking the breed's name beyond its place of origin as farmers from Tyrol and Bavaria would buy breeding rams from Jezersko and Solčava.