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Idrija
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<h2 id="geography">Geography</h2> <p>The town of Idrija lies in the Idrija Basin, surrounded by the Idrija Hills, in the traditional region of <a href="/facts/Inner_Carniola/tMfoQAWW">Inner Carniola</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> and in the <a href="/facts/Gorizia_Statistical_Region/4WLwwtyQ">Gorizia Statistical Region</a>. Today, its inhabitants mostly consider it part of the <a href="/facts/Slovene_Littoral/NXMBJCxE">Slovene Littoral</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> It is traversed by the <a href="/facts/Idrijca/x5jF7d4l">Idrijca</a> River, which is joined there by Nikova Creek. It includes the neighborhoods of Brusovše, Cegovnica, Prenjuta, and Žabja Vas close to the town center, as well as the more outlying hamlets of Češnjice, Ljubevč, Marof, Mokraška Vas, Podroteja, Staje, and Zahoda. The Marof hydroelectric plant is located on the Idrijca River on the northern outskirts of Idrija, between Marof and Mokraška Vas. Springs in the area include Podroteja Spring<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> and <a href="/facts/Wild_Lake/MWl7HLHj">Wild Lake</a> on the Idrijca River south of the town. </p> <h2 id="history">History</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Mercury_(element)/WlxfoHva">Mercury</a> was discovered in Idrija (known as <i>Idria</i> under Austrian rule) in the late 15th century (various sources cite 1490,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> 1492,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> and 1497<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a>). To support the mining activities, <a href="/facts/Gewerkenegg_Castle/wJ9We4q7">Gewerkenegg Castle</a> was constructed between 1522 and 1533 by the mine owners.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> Mining operations were taken over by the government in 1580.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> The mineral <a href="/facts/Idrialite/DAnns6fw">idrialite</a>, discovered here in 1832, is named after the town.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p> <p>In the Middle Ages, Idrija was managed by the <a href="/facts/Patriarchate_of_Aquileia/CSvVMGWA">Patriarchate of Aquileia</a> and the <a href="/facts/Counts_of_Gorizia/uyShSMmH">Counts of Gorizia</a> as part of the Governorate of Tolmin, which became independent in the 15th century. After 1500, Idrija was occupied for one year by the <a href="/facts/Republic_of_Venice/5aqUw6gJ">Republic of Venice</a> (in 1508), but it was otherwise governed by the <a href="/facts/House_of_Habsburg/0ttzWDwA">House of Habsburg</a>. In March 1511, it was affected by the forceful <a href="/facts/1511_Idrija_earthquake/zgkR9wIA">1511 Idrija earthquake</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> For long time Idrija was a cornerstone of the global supply of mercury.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> As such, Idrija supplied mercury needed in the <a href="/facts/Silver_mining/CVSTm9Go">silver mines</a> of the <a href="/facts/Spanish_Empire/RaWWgnQS">Spanish Empire</a> when the mercury mines of <a href="/facts/Almad%25C3%25A9n/2urdrPYT">Almadén</a> and <a href="/facts/Huancavelica/TjwycEmy">Huancavelica</a> faltered in their deliveries.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> In the 18th century, Idrija gained the rights of a <a href="/facts/Market_town/gLsYmDe6">market town</a>. From 1783 until the 1910s, it was part of the <a href="/facts/Inner_Carniola/tMfoQAWW">Inner Carniola</a> <i><a href="/facts/Kreis_(Habsburg_Empire)/6Tx7w9Wb">Kreis</a></i>. In 1920, it came under Italy with the <a href="/facts/Treaty_of_Rapallo_(1920)/Rg3bN6lt">Treaty of Rapallo</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> In September 1943, it became part of the <a href="/facts/Nazi_Germany/8kRbqRpo">Nazi Germany</a> and was then heavily rocketed by the <a href="/facts/South_African_Air_Force/kczqUotd">SAAF</a> in 1945.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> After the war, it formed part of the <a href="/facts/Socialist_Republic_of_Slovenia/MbLG9l8q">Socialist Republic of Slovenia</a> within <a href="/facts/Socialist_Federative_Republic_of_Yugoslavia/PXRlHx9q">Yugoslavia</a> and became a town in independent Slovenia in June 1991. </p> Historical population<table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Pop.</th><th>±%</th></tr><tr><th>1948</th><td>4,735</td><td>— </td></tr><tr><th>1953</th><td>5,013</td><td>+5.9%</td></tr><tr><th>1961</th><td>6,030</td><td>+20.3%</td></tr><tr><th>1971</th><td>6,933</td><td>+15.0%</td></tr><tr><th>1981</th><td>7,229</td><td>+4.3%</td></tr><tr><th>1991</th><td>6,195</td><td>−14.3%</td></tr><tr><th>2002</th><td>5,878</td><td>−5.1%</td></tr><tr><th>2011</th><td>5,955</td><td>+1.3%</td></tr><tr><th>2021</th><td>5,831</td><td>−2.1%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Legend</h3> <p>According to legend, a bucket maker working in a local spring spotted a small amount of liquid mercury over 500 years ago. Idrija is one of the few places in the world where mercury occurs in both its elemental liquid state and as <a href="/facts/Cinnabar/MUzsHjFw">cinnabar</a> (mercury sulfide) ore. The subterranean shaft mine entrance known as Anthony's Shaft (<i>Antonijev rov</i>) is used today for tours of the upper levels, complete with life-sized depictions of workers over the ages. The lower levels, which extend to almost 400 meters below the surface and are no longer being actively mined, are currently being cleaned up. </p> <h2 id="church">Church</h2> <p>The <a href="/facts/Parish_church/AfPvuMe7">parish church</a> in the town is dedicated to <a href="/facts/Saint_Joseph/BRBVMK2Y">Saint Joseph the Worker</a> and belongs to the <a href="/facts/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Koper/7o63DXUL">Diocese of Koper</a>. There are three other churches in Idrija, dedicated to the <a href="/facts/Holy_Trinity/2eElg705">Holy Trinity</a>, <a href="/facts/Anthony_of_Padua/yvbBN8Vn">Saint Anthony of Padua</a>, and <a href="/facts/Our_Lady_of_Sorrows/0naobANg">Our Lady of Sorrows</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="notable-people">Notable people</h2> <p>Notable people who were born or lived in Idrija include: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Ale%25C5%25A1_Bebler/D5Jcr0kb">Aleš Bebler</a> (1907–1981), Slovene Communist leader, resistance fighter, and diplomat</li> <li>Jožef Blasnik (1800–1872), printer, publisher</li> <li><a href="/facts/Stanko_Bloudek/8NpVStEl">Stanko Bloudek</a> (1890–1959), designer</li> <li><a href="/facts/Borut_Bo%25C5%25BEi%25C4%258D/Iu4DSNb0">Borut Božič</a> (born 1980), professional road cyclist</li> <li><a href="/facts/Ale%25C5%25A1_%25C4%258Car/IdmWXuwA">Aleš Čar</a> (born 1971), writer</li> <li><a href="/facts/Karel_De%25C5%25BEman/D570YCqj">Karel Dežman</a> (1821–1889), <a href="/facts/Carniola/DPvUHI78">Carniolan</a> politician and scholar</li> <li>Damir Feigel (1879–1959), writer, journalist, cultural worker, satirist, humorist, father of Slovenian science fiction, national awakener and anti-fascism fighter</li> <li><a href="/facts/Heinrich_Freyer/2UAkn6Bq">Heinrich Freyer</a> (1802–1866), Slovenian botanist, cartographer, pharmacist and natural scientist</li> <li>Ludvik Grilc (1851–1910), painter/portrait painter</li> <li><a href="/facts/Belsazar_Hacquet/BNp5HrY1">Belsazar Hacquet</a> (1739/40–1815), French natural scientist</li> <li><a href="/facts/Vladim%25C3%25ADr_Karf%25C3%25ADk/seGYRzmT">Vladimír Karfík</a> (1901–1996), Czechoslovak architect</li> <li>Eva Lucija Cecilija Viktorija Emilija Kraus, (1785–1845), Baroness of Wolsberg, lover of French Emperor <a href="/facts/Napoleon/8TKBIjPM">Napoleon</a></li> <li>Marko V. Lipold (1816–1883), Miner, geologist and lawyer, known as the father of Slovenian geology</li> <li>Jožef Mrak (1709–1786), one of the most notable Slovenian polytechnicians</li> <li><a href="/facts/Pier_Paolo_Pasolini/NVjM4Ue3">Pier Paolo Pasolini</a> (1922–1975), <a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF">Italian</a> <a href="/facts/Film_director/IlmswLJh">film director</a> and <a href="/facts/Poet/B7kr7N5T">poet</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Vasja_Pirc/n8PtuMee">Vasja Pirc</a> (1907–1980), chess grandmaster</li> <li><a href="/facts/Nikolaj_Pirnat/mXWItdyK">Nikolaj Pirnat</a> (1903–1948), sculptor, painter, illustrator and author</li> <li><a href="/facts/Zorko_Prelovec/UjhtgwSC">Zorko Prelovec</a> (1887–1939), musician, composer, choir composition author</li> <li><a href="/facts/Luka_Rupnik/7PXAvK8l">Luka Rupnik</a> (born 1993), Slovenian basketball player</li> <li><a href="/facts/Marko_Ivan_Rupnik/1SU29CU3">Marko Ivan Rupnik</a> (born 1954), artist, philosopher and theologian</li> <li><a href="/facts/Giovanni_Antonio_Scopoli/Pc8CPo5a">Giovanni Antonio Scopoli</a> (1723–1788), Italian natural scientist</li> <li><a href="/facts/Jan_Tratnik/nEAIbWrA">Jan Tratnik</a> (born 1990), professional road cyclist</li> <li><a href="/facts/Anton_Aloys_Wolf/zdbkR1x2">Anton Aloys Wolf</a> (1782–1859), Roman Catholic bishop, philanthropist, patron of literature</li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li>The <a href="/facts/Ghost_town/ATpvehcq">ghost town</a> of <a href="/facts/New_Idria%2c_California/B39rgIaS">New Idria, California</a>, a site of mercury mining during the 19th-century <a href="/facts/California_Gold_Rush/7avsegzA">California Gold Rush</a>, was named after Idrija.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li> Media related to Idrija at Wikimedia Commons</li> <li><a href="https://www.geopedia.world/#T12_L362_F2473:3851_x1561162.1831092276_y5780984.736072997_s14_b2345">Idrija on Geopedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090123193527/http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/english/index.htm">Idrija municipal museum</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.idrija.com/">Local newspaper</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.idrija-turizem.si/">Tourist info</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050420210524/http://www.rzs-idrija.si/stran2ang.htm">Tourist information</a>, a page in English about the town and its history</li> <li><a href="http://www.idrija.ws/">Town portal</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru, vol. 6: Kranjsko. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna. 1906. pp. 124–125. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru, vol. 6: Kranjsko. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna. 1906. pp. 124–125. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Spezialkarte der Österreichisch-ungarischen Monarchie 1:75.000 Bischoflack und Oberidria (Map). Vienna: Militärgeographisches Institut. 1880. Retrieved January 7, 2019. <a href="http://www.dlib.si/?URN=URN:NBN:SI:IMG-AGRFQPUB" target="_blank">http://www.dlib.si/?URN=URN:NBN:SI:IMG-AGRFQPUB</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija - UNESCO World Heritage Centre <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1313/" target="_blank">https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1313/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Idrija / Slovenia: Alpine Town of the Year 2011". Alpine Town of the Year. Alpine Town of the Year Association. Retrieved July 2, 2025. <a href="https://www.alpinetowns.org/town/idrija/" target="_blank">https://www.alpinetowns.org/town/idrija/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Idrija Is the Alpine Town of the Year 2011". CIPRA – Living in the Alps. February 16, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2025. <a href="https://www.cipra.org/en/news/4302" target="_blank">https://www.cipra.org/en/news/4302</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Kranjc, Gregor J. (2013). To Walk with the Devil: Slovene Collaboration and Axis Occupation, 1941–1945. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 34. the present-day Slovene region of Notranjska), and its main towns of Idrija and Postojna <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Geršič, Matjaž; Perko, Drago (2020). "Pokrajinska identiteta v Sloveniji" [Regional identity in Slovenia.]. In Brezovnik, Boštjan; Holcman, Borut; Trpin, Gorazd (eds.). Pokrajine v Sloveniji [Regions in Slovenia] (PDF) (in Slovenian). Inštitut za lokalno samoupravo. pp. 41–60. COBISS 21117187. <a href="http://www.pokrajine.si/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pokrajine-Zbornik_knjiga_28.6.2020.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.pokrajine.si/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pokrajine-Zbornik_knjiga_28.6.2020.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Podroteja I – Idrijca". Hidrološki podatki. Agencija Republike Slovenije za okolje. Retrieved June 12, 2019. <a href="http://www.arso.gov.si/vode/podatki/amp/H8350_g_1.html" target="_blank">http://www.arso.gov.si/vode/podatki/amp/H8350_g_1.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Arko, Mihael. 1931. Zgodovina Idrije: po raznih arhivalnih in drugih virih. Ljubljana: Katoliška knjigarna, p. 1. <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Savnik, Roman, ed. 1968. Krajevni leksikon Slovenije, vol. 1. Ljubljana: Državna založba Slovenije, p. 70. <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Kmecl, Matjaž. 1981. Treasures of Slovenia. Ljubljana: Cankarjeva založba, p. 262. <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Budkovič, Tomaž, Robert Šajn, & Mateja Gosar. 2003. "Vpliv delujočih in opuščenih rudnikov kovin in topilniških obratov na okolje v Sloveniji ." Geologija 46(1): 135–140, p. 136. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Svetličič, Marjan, & Matija Rojec. 2000. "Kolektor." In Saul Estrin et al. (eds.), Foreign Direct Investment in Central Eastern Europe, pp. 3–28. New York: M. E. Sharpe, p. 3. <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Arko, Mihael. 1931. Zgodovina Idrije: po raznih arhivalnih in drugih virih. Ljubljana: Katoliška knjigarna, p. 1. <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Kmecl, Matjaž. 1981. Treasures of Slovenia. Ljubljana: Cankarjeva založba, p. 262. <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Top 10 attractions". <a href="https://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/en/obiscite-nas/top-10-zanimivosti/?zanimivost=6054" target="_blank">https://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/en/obiscite-nas/top-10-zanimivosti/?zanimivost=6054</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Idria" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 14 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 289. <a href="/wiki/Hugh_Chisholm" target="_blank">/wiki/Hugh_Chisholm</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Nickel, Ernest H.; Nichols, Monte C. (1991). Mineral Reference Manual. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. p. 95. <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Lampe, Katarinca (2007). Zgodovinski mejniki pri gospodarjenju z idrijskimi gozdovi (PDF). <a href="http://www.digitalna-knjiznica.bf.uni-lj.si/vs_lampe_katarinca.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.digitalna-knjiznica.bf.uni-lj.si/vs_lampe_katarinca.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Lang, Mervyn (1986). "El derrumbe de Huancavelica en 1786: Fracaso de una reforma borbónica". Histórica (in Spanish). X (2): 213–226. <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Lang, Mervyn (1986). "El derrumbe de Huancavelica en 1786: Fracaso de una reforma borbónica". Histórica (in Spanish). X (2): 213–226. <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Golec, Boris (November 2015). "Kako so natali GORENJCI, DOLENJCI in NOTRANJCI ter kam so izginili KRANJCI" (PDF). SLO časi, kraji, ljudje. Slovenski zgodovinski magazin: 34. <a href="https://skupnost.sio.si/pluginfile.php/75796/mod_forum/attachment/463696/slo_pokrajine.pdf" target="_blank">https://skupnost.sio.si/pluginfile.php/75796/mod_forum/attachment/463696/slo_pokrajine.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Grom, Janez Peter; Mikša, Peter; Fikfak, Alenka. "Pomen rapalske meje in vpliv na morfološki razvoj Idrije ter Žirov" [The Significance of the Rapallo Border and its Influence on the Morphological Development of Idrija and Žiri]. Annales. Series historia et sociologia (in Slovenian). 31 (1). <a href="https://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-MOB3CTWJ/?query=%27keywords%3DRapallo+border%27&pageSize=25" target="_blank">https://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-MOB3CTWJ/?query=%27keywords%3DRapallo+border%27&pageSize=25</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Rijavec, Monika (2018). Jeklene ptice nad Idrijo (Motion picture) (in Slovenian). Directed by Dušan Moravec, Director of Picture Jurij Nemec. <a href="https://365.rtvslo.si/arhiv/dokumentarci-kulturno-umetniski/174539339" target="_blank">https://365.rtvslo.si/arhiv/dokumentarci-kulturno-umetniski/174539339</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Koper Diocese list of churches Archived 2009-03-06 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://kp.rkc.si/dokumenti/zupnije/seznam.pdf" target="_blank">http://kp.rkc.si/dokumenti/zupnije/seznam.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>