Kindly invited to mysterious world of underground tunnels, wild waters and unique works of art.
The town Idrija developed in a basin in the midst of a hilly and woody region. Under a more than one-hundred-meter high precipice of the Črni Vrh plateau, there hides the lake Divje jezero (Wild lake). After heavy rainfalls the water literally bursts out of its spring and turns the typically placid and idyllic lake into a »wild« one.

According to the legend, the tub-maker »škafar« was scooping water out of an adjacent brook, but could hardly move the wooden pail when he wanted to lift it up from the stream. He had caught mercury, a liquid metal with a density so high that a piece of iron floats in it like cork. Only years later the digging started on the location where mercury had first been found. In the beginning of the 18th century they reached the depth of one hundred meters and deeper. On the surface the town was growing. The mercury was stored in the castle Gewerkenegg, where the mine administration had its seat, too. After the omission of mercury use in industry, production in the mine was abandoned.

After five hundred years of intensive production, the mine acquired a new role, as Idrija is turning into a destination interesting for tourism and educational reasons. In Idrija visitors can see a wide selection of mining legacy from the previous times.

Approximately two hundred years ago a large water pump »kamšt« was constructed for pumping the water out of the pits. Constant water influx was necessary to drive the wooden waterwheel, and it was led onto the wheel from the water channel »rake«. This channel was built intentionally for running the »kamšt« waterwheels and has not lost its function after the pumps had been stopped – water from the channel still runs the turbine of a small hydro-electric power plant. The mine also needed a lot of timber which they got from the adjacent forests. Wood was floated along the streams. To stem the water needed for floating, special water barriers called »klavže« were built. They haven't been used since the early 20th century, because road transport possibilities have improved and made the transport easier.

You can get to know the story of Idrija and its vicinity in the Municipal museum Idrija, which preserves the cultural heritage of the regions of Idrija and Cerkno in the fields of history, newer history, ethnology, history of arts and technical heritage. In the Castle Gewerkenegg visitors can see the permanent exhibition of the five-hundred-year-long history of the mercury mine and the town, an extensive geological collection with more than 2,600 pieces of rocks, fossils, mercury ores and minerals, as well as a collection of bobbin Idrija lace.


Skilfully interlaced threads

In Slovenia lace has been made at least since the 16th century. In the beginning it was made and used mainly in the noble families and among nuns. Later lace has found its way into towns and the suburbs, where the income from lace trade contributed to the ordinarily moderate family budgets. There was little lace to be found in these houses, but each bride included underwear and bed linen with lace in her trousseau. It is presumed that lacemaking was adopted from the wives of miners and mine experts who came to work in Idrija from the German region of Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), but the impact from the Italian side (Venice, Genoa) is possible, too. The oldest written sources of lacemaking in Slovenia date from 1696 and describe lace and lace resellers in Idrija.

Bobbin lacemaking is one of the ways of making lace, these refined arts and crafts' items. Lacemaking is a craft and art at the same time – a craft, because it is possible to learn it, because there are certain rules for it and only practice, skilfulness and experience lead to the desired results, and art because despite the set rules each lacemaker gives the piece of lace its own character. The lacemakers make various nets, curves, bends and links, and each of them has a different touch, depending on their knowledge, imagination and courage to change and adapt elements on the »pricking« on their own. Only due to the reason that women and girls in Idrija kept reshaping and adapting the »patterns« during the centuries for different reasons and according to their own wishes, they gradually formed a lace type, recognisable and distinctive for Idrija. In times of the main prosperity of lacemaking in the world, the merchants from Idrija were allowed to sell this lace as Idrija lace, at that time known as »idrianische Spitze«.

Knowledge of lacemaking was initially taught from generation to generation in the families. Because the demands of customers were getting higher and higher, the need to organise a way of educating lacemakers emerged. The empress Maria Theresa established the first lacemaking school in Ljubljana in 1764, but it only lasted four years. About one hundred years later, in 1876, another one was established in Idrija and it still educates contemporary lacemakers. The first teacher at the Lacemaking school Idrija was a local girl Ivanka Ferjančič. Its main distinction nowadays is the fact that it educates youth and adults, organises specialised courses throughout Slovenia, educates teachers of lacemaking and thus preserves the knowledge of using numerous lacemaking techniques and elements, present only in the most advanced patterns. These are being made in the programme of the Lacemaking school Idrija only.

As an influential element of the national heritage, Idrija Lace is becoming more and more esteemed as a diplomatic, business and personal gift in Slovenia and abroad. Lace can be used as such or within various items, such as doilies, towels, bed linen, curtains, scarves, handkerchiefs, cloths, collars, congratulation cards, brooches, jewellery, fashion clothes and shoes, etc. Lace can also be set in semi-precious stones and glass, which gives extraordinary results. Idrija Lace is very noticeable and often used as an element of interior design, too.

The new brand name I & Idria Lace contributes to the greater recognition of Idrija lace, as it markets high quality lace made by lacemakers from the area known as Land of Idrija lace. A special impact and role is held by the packaging, designed uniquely for the lace of the new trade mark.

Idrija lace boasts a several-hundred-year-long tradition and reputation. It is a valuable product, incorporating knowledge, precision, patience and immense beauty. Each piece of lace is a magnificent token to its creators – the designer, the pattern designer and the lacemaker. It is esteemed as a cultural, ethnological and technological pearl which deserves preservation and at the same time development and upgrading with the creative knowledge of the contemporary designing.


Ancient dishes in modern times

Idrija and its vicinity excel with its special dishes, desserts and drinks which ease the hunger of each visitor. The most famous culinary specialty is »idrijski žlikrofi«, whereas the origin and age of the recipe remains unknown. Nowadays »žlikrofi« hold the first position among the traditional local dishes. They are a local specialty and a nationally protected dish, made of dough, filled with potato, chives, marjoram and cracklings, and formed in a specific shape. Traditionally they are served with »bakalca«, a sauce of mutton and vegetables. Due to their delicious taste and refined shape, they are often served at diplomatic events. The Association for promoting and preserving local dishes from Idrija has provided the preservation of the traditional recipe, the preparation process and the quality of the dish. »Žlikrofi« have been awarded with the status of a »dish of higher quality«.


At special occasions, appealing scents of other local specialties spread from the kitchens of hard-working housewives. Various rolls with herbs (»zeljševka«), cracklings (»ocvirkovca«), vegetable soups (»smukavc«) and dumplings (»štruklji«) are only few to mention. A wormwood shrub could be found at every house in Idrija in the past. Miners used to soak the leaves in spirit and brewed the liquor called »geruž«.