Idrija: Mercury Mining, Lace and Geopark

Idrija combines an exceptional geological and natural setting with the heritage of mercury mining and bobbin lace-making. The entire area of the municipality is part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks network because of its geological and other natural features and attractions. Idrija’s mercury heritage, together with that of Almadén, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This gives travellers different ways to experience the place, from its natural features and landscapes to its mining history and crafts.

Mining History and Bobbin Lace

Anthony's Main Road is the oldest preserved mine entrance in Europe; it was excavated in 1500. Guided tours take visitors through underground tunnels containing cinnabar ore and droplets of mercury. One of the distinctive features of the tour is an underground chapel. At the Hg Smelting Plant, experiments, animations, videos and mercury-based devices explain the importance of mercury. The world’s largest rotary furnace for mercury extraction is also located there.

Gewerkenegg Castle is home to the Idrija Municipal Museum. Its exhibitions cover the 500-year history of mercury mining and the town of Idrija, as well as Idrija lace. The Klavže water barriers are preserved structures from the mercury-mining era, known as the “Slovenian pyramids” and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. The Slovenija Partisan Printing Shop presents another facet of history: it is a fully preserved cultural and historical monument from the Second World War. With the help of a guide, visitors can print their own leaflet there.

Bobbin lace-making is also part of the cultural heritage: Idrija lace-making, together with Slovenian lace-making, is included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At the Idrija Lace Festival, held every summer, visitors can experience bobbin lace-making first-hand.

Protected Nature and Notable Places

Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park has been designated a landscape park since 1993. Divje jezero was protected as a natural monument in 1967 and has been open to visitors since 1972 as Slovenia’s first open-air museum. The Jezernica is another notable feature of this natural site: at 55 metres long, it is considered Slovenia’s shortest river.

The Rake Path is an easy walking trail along the left bank of the Idrijca to Divje jezero. Another testament to the area’s mining history is the Rake water channel. Built at the end of the 16th century, it supplied water to the mine’s large wooden water wheels. The two names thus refer to different aspects of the area: the walking trail described above and a structure dating from the mining era.

Hudournik summit reaches 1,148 metres. In suitable weather, the view stretches from Kanin and Krn in the west, past Triglav, Porezen and Blegoš, to the Kamnik–Savinja Alps. Weather conditions are crucial to the view.

Trails, Regional Cuisine and Activities

The marked Feldban hiking trail follows the Godovič–Idrija section and can be explored independently or with a guide. The Honey Circle is a nine-kilometre loop through Gorenja Kanomlja. Along the way are the Kanomlja Water Barriers, Ovčjak Waterfall and Šturmajce Homestead. The loop also offers opportunities to taste honey, honey products and other local dishes.

At an Idrija Žlikrofi Making Workshop, visitors learn how to prepare and make this filled pasta. It is then tasted with traditional or modern sauces. The Idrija Žlikrofi Festival takes place every year in August. If you plan to attend one of the festivals, check the exact dates for the relevant year. The Strug Climbing Centre offers another sporting activity: its 50-metre-high walls are used for sport climbing.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

The Idrija Tourist Information Centre is located at Prelovčeva 5 and provides information about Idrija and the surrounding area. Idrija can be reached by car or bus. If travelling by train, you can continue from Logatec by bus; check connections for your travel dates.

When looking for a hotel in Idrija, you can first decide which themes you want your stay to focus on: mining history and lace, protected nature, trails or regional cuisine. The summer lace festival and the Žlikrofi Festival held in August offer additional seasonal points of interest for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Idrija, Cerkno, Črni Vrh, Lome, Bukovo, Zakriž, Srednja Kanomlja, Vojsko.

For the main travel overview: Slovenia.