Sights · Our pick
Idrija
Mercury, lace, žlikrofi
A UNESCO-listed mercury-mining town in the hills west of Ljubljana, famous for bobbin lace.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Jani Peternelj · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Luka Peternel · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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About Idrija
Life in Idrija has revolved around mercury since 1490, when, legend says, a tub maker found shining drops of heavy metal in a stream. For 500 years its mine supplied mercury far and wide, and today the heritage, shared with Almadén in Spain, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Go underground to walk the oldest part of the mine by miners’ lamplight, see Europe’s largest water wheel and visit Gewerkenegg Castle, which housed the mine’s administration. Then try your hand at Idrija lace with a local teacher, and stay for the town’s famous cooking.
Our take
- UNESCO Heritage of Mercury
- Old mine tours
- Lace and žlikrofi
- Address
- Idrija, the Balkans
- Website
- visit-idrija.si
- Our city guide
- On our Ljubljana guide
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Idrija before you go.
Last checked: October 2026 How we choose
Location
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