The technical heritage of the town Idrija which developed above the mercury mine and grew throughout the centuries, will be presented to you by visiting the
main technical monuments which have been preserved and renovated to bear witness of the grandeur of the oldest mining town in Slovenia.
With a local guide you will take a walk through the town centre and get to know the main attractions as well as the interesting story of the history of the town and the mine underneath the town.
After the guided tour you will visit
the tourist mine Anthony's Shaft, where over 1200m of the pit next to the oldest still preserved e
ntrance into a mine, dating from 1500, are meant for tourist visitors.
After the tour in the mine, you will return onto the surface and walk to the the f
amous wooden water-wheel Kamšt with a diameter of 13.6m, which used to drive the water pumps in the mine shafts to pump the water from the pit. Such water-wheels were in action at the shafts in Idrija till the early 20th century.
Next to the building, where the water-wheel is, you will see the
water channel Rake which led the neccessary water onto the driving wheel Kamšt, as well as a collection of preserved mine locomotives which hauled the ore from the main shafts to the smelting plant.
A delicious lunch with local specialities will then calm your stomachs and keep you ready for more information about the
technological sights in Idrija.
You will see a
collection of restored machinery from the mine, among them steam and electrical machines, pumps, and other exhibits.
Your last stop will be at the
castle Gewerkenegg, where the museum collections representing the past of the mine and the town, where you will be able to put the whole story of Idrija together and have an overview of the things heard and seen on this trip.
Tourist information center Idrija
phone: 05 37 43 916
fax: 05 37 43 915
E-mail:
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Web page: http://www.idrija-turizem.si
