Idrija: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The mercury heritage of Idrija, together with that of Almadén, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The lacemaking tradition of Idrija bobbin lace, together with Slovenian bobbin lacemaking, has also been included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Those who choose Idrija as a travel destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.

Nature

The entire area of the Municipality of Idrija belongs to the UNESCO Global Geoparks network because of its exceptional geological and other natural features and attractions. The Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park has been designated a landscape park since 1993.

Divje jezero was protected as a natural monument in 1967. Since 1972, it has been open to visitors as Slovenia's first museum in nature. At 55 metres long, the Jezernica is Slovenia's shortest river.

The Rake Path is a pleasant walking trail along the left bank of the Idrijca to Divje jezero. The Written in Rocks exhibition offers an interactive journey into Idrija's geological past.

Culture

Anthony's Main Road is the oldest preserved entrance to a mine in Europe and was excavated in 1500. Guided tours of Anthony's Main Road include underground tunnels with cinnabar ore and mercury droplets, as well as a unique underground chapel.

The Hg Smelting Plant uses experiments, animations, videos and mercury-based devices to convey the significance of mercury, and houses the world's largest rotary kiln for mercury extraction.

The Idrija Klavže water barriers are preserved structures from the mercury-mining industry, known as the “Slovenian pyramids”, and were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012.

Gewerkenegg Castle houses the Idrija Municipal Museum, whose exhibitions cover the 500-year history of mercury mining and the town of Idrija, as well as Idrija lace. The Idrija Municipal Museum's lace collection comprises more than 5,500 objects.

The Slovenija Partisan Printing Shop is a fully preserved cultural and historical monument from the Second World War. Visitors can print their own leaflet there with the assistance of a supervisor.

The Rake water channel was built at the end of the 16th century to supply the mine's large wooden water wheels with water.

Activities

The Strug Climbing Centre has 50-metre-high walls used for sport climbing. The Feldban is a marked hiking trail along the Godovič–Idrija section, which can be explored independently or with a guide.

The Honey Circle is a nine-kilometre circular trail through Gorenja Kanomlja, passing the Kanomlja Water Barriers, Ovčjak Waterfall and Šturmajce Homestead.

The 1,148-metre-high Hudournik summit offers views, in suitable weather conditions, from Kanin and Krn in the west across Triglav, Porezen and Blegoš to the Kamnik–Savinja Alps.

Food and Festivals

At the Idrija Žlikrofi Making Workshop, visitors learn how to prepare and make the filled pasta; it is then sampled with traditional or modern sauces.

The Honey Circle offers opportunities to taste honey, honey products and other local dishes.

The Idrija Lace Festival takes place every summer and gives visitors the opportunity to experience the making of bobbin lace first-hand. The Idrija Žlikrofi Festival takes place every year in August.

Orientation

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; those travelling by train can continue by bus from Logatec.

Local pages: Idrija, Cerkno, Črni Vrh, Lome, Bukovo, Zakriž, Srednja Kanomlja, Vojsko

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