The Jezersko-Solcava

The Jezersko–Solčava, in German called “Brillenschaf” meaning “spectacled sheep”, owes its name to the dark spots around its eyes, which resemble spectacles.

In addition to the "glasses", the ears, with more than half of the surface being black, are distinctive features of the spectacled sheep. Other than that, their fur is white, the wool is long and silky shiny. This sheep breed can produce up to five kilograms of wool per year.

The Carinthian spectacled sheep is a cross of the traditional country sheep with the Paduan silk sheep and the Italian Bergamasque sheep. The animals are robust and undemanding and as such well adapted to the harsh climate in the Alps.

The breed used to be widespread in large parts of Austria, but after World War II, the importance of sheep breeding declined and spectacled sheep were considered almost extinct. Today, more than 250 breeding farms for the distinctive Carinthian spectacled sheep exist across the country.