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Idrija Through Five Centuries
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Idrija – the oldest Slovenian mining town – has been for half of a
millennium widely known, at home and abroad, due to its mercury
treasures, which have importantly influenced many events not only on a
national scale but also on the wider European scale. The Idrija Mine
was for several centuries ranked among the most prominent Central
European corporations, and it played a significant role in
international economic relations.
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17th century
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At the outset of the 17th century (1607), the Court separated the
Idrijan region from the Tolminska region and founded a separate
“Idrijan seigneury”, which was headed by the mine’s administration.
Idrija grew in size to the status of a market town, which numbered some
300 miners and 1500 inhabitants in the time of Valvasor (around 1690).
The social and health conditions were still fairly neglected; in
particular were frequent and actual problematic mercury poisonings.
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18th century
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The explicit financial interest also dictated to the Vienna court a
certain concern for the mining city and the fate of its inhabitants.
Consequently, during the 18th century Idrija started to acquire a
better urban design outlook, grander churches with touches of all
international baroque style, new grain warehouse, its own theatre, well
organised vocational and folk schools, and, above all, urgently needed
health care service.
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19th century
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Within the 19th century and up to World War I, the Idrija mine
preserved its prominent role as one of the most lucrative state
companies. By means of steam engines, machine drilling, improved
furnaces, and electrification, the production units maintained a high
production rate and in 1913 reached their all-time record: 820 tons of
mercury.
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20th century
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During World War I, and following a 25-year long Italian occupation
(1918-1943), there came a period of stagnation at the mine as well as a
time of cultural lethargy and anti-Slovenian pressures. Under German
military supervision (1943-1945), the company further slowed down its
activities, until air raids in the spring 1945 put it almost entirely
out of action.
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Idrija at present
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Nowadays, real miners in Idrija are virtually extinct. Nevertheless,
they left an exceptionally rich heritage, which is preserved in
technical, cultural, and historical monuments, restored buildings and
machinery, ethnological assets and curiosities, archival documentation,
museum collections, an extensive bibliography, and many other points of
interest. Most of the heritage is put on show to domestic and foreign
visitors.
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Idrija's miners
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In lieu of a postscript let us dedicate a few words to Idrija’s miners,
in their honour and to the memory of their contributions.
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