We’ve Got Hives!

Drop everything, dear, and come along.

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Image courtesy of Gerard van Schagen via Wikimedia Commons

We’re flying off on a whirlwind tour of shacks and chalets, hovels and halls, cottages and castles worldwide …

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Photo by Cristo Vlahos via Wikimedia Commons

Oh, but, no. Not that sort of chalet. The home-sweet-homes we’re hunting aren’t inhabited by humans, honey.

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Photo by Skrissh2013 via Wikimedia Commons

Catch the clue?

Each bungalow along our route, big or small, belongs to … bees.

That’s right. We’re traveling around the world in 80 hives!

(Well, okay, maybe not 80, but a bunch of buzzing beauties nonetheless.)

First stop—in alphabetical order, because my sense of direction has never been all that keen—Austria.

Just look at the intricacy of this unique alpine getaway:

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Photo by Häferl via Wikimedia Commons

Looking for something more rustic? Try these jungle bungalows in Burkina Faso (a country in western Africa):

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Photo by Marco Schmidt via Wikimedia Commons

Or these woodsy log homes in the forest of Sichuan, China:

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Photo by Philippe Semanaz via Wikimedia Commons

In Croatia, the communal hives are distinguished by simple signs:

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Photo by Lovro Rumiha via Wikimedia Commons

While the hives in the Czech Republic are nothing short of architectural artwork:

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Photo by Mpik61 via Wikimedia Commons

 

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Photo by Podzemnik via Wikimedia Commons

In Ethiopia, the bees nest in trees:

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Photo by Bernard Gagnon via Wikimedia Commons

French hives are fabulously pastoral, as you might have guessed:

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Photo by Myrabella via Wikimedia Commons

In Germany, the accommodations range from humbly traditional skeps to elaborate sculptures:

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Photo by Hajotthu via Wikimedia Commons

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Photo by Till F. Teenck via Wikimedia Commons

Have a look at this charming stone community cottage in Hungary:

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Photo by Kaboldy via Wikimedia Commons

And, oh, don’t you just love these hand-carved hives in Lithuania?

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Photo by Wojsyl via Wikimedia Commons

Polish beehives are as diverse as they are delightful, so let’s linger for a while:

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Photo by Mos810 via Wikimedia Commons

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Photo by Ciacho5 via Wikimedia Commons

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Photo by Antosh via Wikimedia Commons

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Photo by Przykuta via Wikimedia Commons

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Photo by Kroton via Wikimedia Commons

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Photo via DirtGirlWorldTV on Facebook

Now, on to Portugal, where we behold this bark-covered cabin:

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Photo by Daniel Feliciano via Wikimedia Commons

In Russia, this hive is a resplendent replica of the Troitsky Monastery in Tyumen:

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Photo by Yarrowind via Wikimedia Commons

And, as luck would have it, we may have saved the best for last …

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Photo by Reuben Dalke via Wikimedia Commons

If I were a bee, I’d love to stay in Slovenia for a spell, wouldn’t you?

The one country we didn’t tour was the U.S., because I’m leaving that leg of our journey up to you.

If you have—or have seen—a heavenly hive close to home, take me on a virtual visit!

 

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Wow, these bee hives are wonderful and creative. I love how the various countries have come up with their own unique styles and some of them are architectural prizes! My favorite are the Polish creations. How about the gypsy wagon look? Adorable! Have bees will travel to your orchard. Do you think bees are happier in really cute digs?

  2. Deborah McKissic says:

    I so enjoyed the “bee hive tour”…some of those were so amazing..I think maybe other countries care for the bees in a little bit more special way then we do here in the US…hmm…we should take note of that…how are your bees, Mary Jane? I would love to see photos of your hives! My mom and Dad raised bees on their farm, many hives all painted different colors…bee attracting, of course… along with sheep and hay. Mostly my mom took care of the bees and she also taught beekeeping at a University near them in Va. My girls grew up on their farm…summer visits were so wonderful…my Dad had retired after 35 years working for the government and became a farmer! 19 years of farming before he passed….he so loved the farm…we all so loved the bees and the honey!!

  3. All of these people in these diverse nations really love their bees and they truly show it !I have never seen such works of architectural wonder. What a wonderful travel tour . I’d seen the hives in trees in parts of africa but did not know what they were. The very best honey I’ve eaten is jungle honey from the Amazon Jungles, pitch black and tasted of every tropical flower you’d ever seen.
    The honey in Kenya is high mountain grown like their coffee and is also black as molasses and sweet like coffee blossoms. And our own white Sourwood honey from the Appalachia mountains. As it is said:
    ” Most honey is made by bees. But sourwood is made by bees and angels”. – Carson Brewer, writer

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