Idrija

Town of silver mercury and exquisite white lace

Idrija located in the western Primorska region, is the oldest mining town in Slovenia, renowned for the second largest mercury mine in the world, and lace-work. In the last three decades Idrija has turned into a modern large international manufacturing base in electric motors, components and furniture. The town is nestled in a scenic wooded landscape at the confluence of the Idrijca and Nikova Rivers at the foothills of the Julian Alps. The Idrija-Cerkno Hills are protected as a Regional Park of 4,230 hectares (1992) by the Idrija municipality. Natural attractions are located in the park of vast forests, deep valleys and ravines; a wonder is the blue-green Divje Jezero (Wild Lake). In 2010, the population was over 16,000. 

For a time Idrija was amongst the most prosperous towns in Europe, second to Ljubljana in the state of Carniola. Idrija produced 13% of the world mercury during its operation. Almaden in Spain was the leading producer for 2,000 years. After mercury was discovered in 1490, the mine’s Anthony’s Shaft (Antonijev rov) opened in 1500. In 500 years the mine produced 107,000 tons exported throughout the world. Miners dug more than 1,000 kilometres of shafts; the deepest reached 380 metres. The mine employed the majority of the town’s population and surrounding villages, there were up to 1,300 miners. In the 17th century mercury yields were 5,700 kilo. a day, a value of 4,000 gold ducats. Idrija Mine was a major Central European corporation, a highly profitable state company. With the fall in the world price for mercury, the mine closed in 1977, and Almaden closed in 2000.

Over the centuries, Idrija’s mining industry attracted doctors to treat severe illnesses caused by exposure to and toxicity of mercury, and other experts, which lead to contributions in science, technology, and education. Among them were: J. A. Scopoli who wrote the first book on Carniolan flora, Entomologica Carniolica (1763), and B. Haquet Oryctographia carniolica (1784), the first geological and minerological study of Carniola, Istra, and a report on the Idrija mine. The other important craft founded in Idrija is lacemaking, a unique refined style of bobbin lace, flourishing to world recognition. Lace education and production is part of the cultural life of the town with; the annual Idrija Lace Festival in June, the Lacemaking School (since 1876), established sales galleries and lace fashion studios.  

Gewerkenegg Castle (1533) built for the management of the mine, houses the Idrija Municipal Museum founded in 1953. It is responsible for the area’s nature park, technical, ethnological and cultural heritage. Monuments include; including; the largest wooden water wheel (kamšt) in Europe of 13.6 diametres (1790-1948), mine machines, a miner’s house, first theatre house (1769) and first Slovenian grammar school (1901). Heritage from World War 11 presented at the Slovenia Partisan Printing Shop in Vojsko, operated from 1944 to May 1945. The Partizanski Dnevnik (The Partisan’s Daily) was the only daily newspaper printed by a resistance organisation in occupied Europe; a daily edition of 4,000 to 7,000 copies, were distributed in Slovenia by couriers who risked their life. Another historical monument is the Franja Partisan Hospital (Dec 1943 to May 1945), a clandestine hospital built by the Slovenian resistance. 

The Museum has two departments for Idrija and Cerkno regions. In the castle an extensive museum complex is the museum’s main permanent exhibition “Five Centuries of the Mercury Mine and the Town of Idrija”, Anthony’s Shaft is open to the public. A permanent exhibition of Idrija’s lace in 2008, “Idrija Lace, A History Written in Thread”; presents the development, trade, and activities of Idrija lace, with a collection by Slovenian fashion designers. The Museum received the Valvasor Award in 2008 the highest award in Slovenia for achievement in museology.   

In 1997 Idrija Mine Museum received the Luigi Michelleti Award, as the best European museum of industrial and technical heritage. In 2011 Idrija was awarded two prestigious titles in Europe, Alpine Town of the Year, and Idrija - European Destination of Excellence. 

Further reading: 

Idrija Mine Museum

http://www.culture.si/en/Idrija_Mine_Museum

Idrija Municipal Museum

http://www.culture.si/en/Idrija_Municipal_Museum

Lace beauty created with needle, and bobbin

http://www.slovenia.si/en/culture/tradition/idrija-lace-beauty-created-with-needle-bobbin-and-thread/

Trail of Idrija Lace - Lace International Centre

Learning Activities

1. Create a route map from Ljubljana to Idrija, with driving directions. 

Text-type: route map, instructions, 

Linguistic element: proper noun, cardinal directions, directions

Look at Google Maps at http://maps.google.si/ and http://maps.google.com/  and 

use the directions tools for the route. 

2. Write a menu for lunch with at least three courses for four persons.

Text-type: menu, list, 

Linguistic element:  noun, request,

Look at menu at Hotel Jožef restaurant, and note the courses 

http://www.hotel-jozef.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=3&Itemid=3&lang=en

3. Construct a reservation form to stay at Hotel Jožef.

Text-type: request, order, guide,

Linguistic element: numbers, dates, months, 

Look at accommodation guide as a model

http://www.hotel-jozef.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=10

4. Produce a promotional brochure on the natural attractions in Idrija region.

Text-type: index, description, list, brochure,

Linguistic element: noun, adjective,  

Include: Scopoli Garden, Divje Jezero, Natural Park, Idrija Fishing Assoc., hunting

http://www.hotel-jozef.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=9&Itemid=16&lang=en

http://park.idrija-turizem.si/EN/01_oparku.php

http://www.rd-idrija.si

http://www.hotel-cerkno.si/fishing-hunting

5. Design a webpage of a tourism website featuring: 

technical and cultural heritage

OR World War 11 heritage of Idrija and Cerkno

OR Idrija lace production today and new fashion studios.

Text-type: index, description, list, map, legend,

Linguistic element: conjunction, adjective,

Include mining monuments, or lace production history

http://www.idrija-turizem.si/

http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/

http://www.randburg.com/si/idrija.html

6. Write a tour program on the historical attractions of Idrija and Cerkno.

Text-type: list, plan, program, 

Linguistic element: complex sentences, dates, 

Include: Franja Partisan Hospital, Divje Babe archaeological site, 

Castle Gewerkenegg, Kamšt, Klavže,

http://www.hotel-cerkno.si/attractions

Resources

Websites

In Slovenian

Town and Heritage

www.idrija-turizem.si

http://www.hotel-jozef.si/

http://www.idrija.si/

http://www.rzs-idrija.si/AR_VEC.htm

http://darila.idrija-turizem.si/

http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/

http://www.rzs-idrija.si/

http://www.prc.si/

http://www.cerkno.si/

http://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Antonio_Scopoli

http://www.hotel-cerkno.si/active-summer

Lace

http://www.cipkarskasola.si/

http://www.icra.si/dezela-cipke/

http://www.idrijalace.org 

http://www.culture.si/en/Idrija_Lace_Festival

http://www.burger.si/DOGODKI/2008_IdrijaCipke/seznam.html

Nature

http://www.arso.gov.si/

http://park.idrija-turizem.si/index.html

http://www.rd-idrija.si/si/domov.html

In English

Town and Heritage

www.idrija-turizem.si

http://www.hotel-jozef.si/

http://www.culture.si/en/Idrija_Mine_Museum

http://www.culture.si/en/Idrija_Municipal_Museum

http://www.culture.si/en/Historical_Archives_Ljubljana:_Idrija_Unit

http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/

http://www.prc.si/

http://www.randburg.com/si/idrija.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Antonio_Scopoli

http://www.hotel-cerkno.si/active-summer

Lace

http://www.icra.si/dezela-cipke/

http://www.idrijalace.org/en

http://www.viryent.com

http://www.culture.si/en/Idrija_Lace_Festival

http://www.burger.si/DOGODKI/2008_IdrijaCipke/seznam.html

Nature

http://www.arso.gov.si/

http://park.idrija-turizem.si/EN/01_oparku.php

http://www.rd-idrija.si/en/home.html

Maps

http://www.geopedia.si/

http://maps.google.com/

Gallery

Divje jezero (Wild Lake), Virtual Panoromas. Boštjan Burger. 

http://www.burger.si/Slapovi/Izviri/DivjeJezero/seznam.html

Videos Online

Idrija Lace - A History in Thread by Matjaž Mrak (2008)

http://vimeo.com/7125470 

Idrija Municipal Museum - The Best in Heritage (2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lj_UOaVThw&feature=player_embedded

Documentary on Idrija Lace (2006)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fws51jCEgxY&feature=related

References

Bogataj, J, Handicrafts of Slovenia : Encounters with Contemporary Slovene Craftsmen, Rokus, Ljubljana, 1999

Kranjc, A, Likarja, V, Žalik Huzjan, M,(eds) KRAS : Pokrajina - Življenje - Ljudje, ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana, 1999

Krušič, M, Slovenia, The Tourist Guide, Mladinska knjiga, Ljubljana, 1999

Leskovec, I, Peljhan, M, Idrija : Zgodba o petstoletnem srebrnem studencu, Občine Idrija in Rudnik živega srebra d.o.o., Idrija, 2009

Raztresen, M, Zorko, D, Najlepša mesta Slovenije, Mladinska Knjiga, Ljubljana, 2004