Idrija Geopark Visitors’ Centre

The Idrija Geopark Visitors' Centre is the place to begin a visit to the Idrija area, a region in western Slovenia that is a UNESCO Global Geopark and is also known for its mercury mine, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Idrija owes its existence to quicksilver. The deposit was discovered in the late fifteenth century, and for hundreds of years the mine was one of the largest producers of mercury in the world, bringing wealth to the Habsburg state and shaping the town's architecture, traditions and technology.

The centre's exhibition, titled Written in Rocks, explains how the landscape came to be. It uses models, animations and film to present the geological story of the area, including the Idrija Fault, a major fracture that runs through the region and played a part in forming the mercury deposit, and the karst features that have shaped the valleys and caves. The displays also cover the plants and animals of the area and the traditions of local people, with particular attention to Idrija lace, a bobbin lace craft that is still taught in the town's lace school and that grew in part from the need for work among miners' families.

The geopark is much larger than the town, and the centre works as a guide to the many places worth visiting beyond it. The Idrija Mercury Mine and the Anthony Mine Shaft let visitors descend into the old workings, and Gewerkenegg Castle houses the Municipal Museum of Idrija. The Water Pump of Idrija (kamšt), a large wooden water wheel, shows the engineering that once drained the mine, and the klavže, stone dams used to float timber to the mine, stand in the forests nearby. The Wild Lake (Divje Jezero), a karst spring with striking colours, and the Zgornja Idrijca Nature Park offer nature walks, and the Feldban hiking trail (Godovič-Idrija section) links parts of the geopark on foot. The Church of Mary on the Rock and the Old School add to the list of town sights.

The centre suits both families and visitors with an interest in geology, and it offers a helpful overview before the walks. Opening arrangements and the cost of different activities vary, so it is wise to check them with the centre before travelling. Idrija is a quiet town, and staying overnight lets you see it without the day-trip crowds.