The Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre was established in 2011 by the Government of Slovenia to ensure the integrated and sustainable management of the cultural and natural heritage associated with the Idrija mercury mine. Its creation responds to the need to protect, preserve and present one of Europe’s most exceptional mining landscapes — a territory shaped over half a millennium by the extraction and use of mercury, which has influenced the local community, environment and built environment in profound ways.
Today the Centre’s mission encompasses a wide range of activities: overseeing the preservation of physical heritage such as mine structures, underground galleries, smelting facilities and water management systems; maintaining unflooded sections of the historic mine; and monitoring the longterm environmental and social effects of centuries of mining, especially following the closure of the Idrija Mercury Mine company in 2017.
In collaboration with other local and international partners — including the Municipality of Idrija, the Idrija Municipal Museum, the Parish of Idrija, UNESCO, and the broader European mining heritage community — the Centre develops educational programmes, interpretive experiences and public initiatives aimed at connecting residents and visitors alike with the region’s mining past. Its work seeks not only to conserve material evidence, but also to foster appreciation of the cultural narratives and historical insights that emerge from them, thereby supporting responsible tourism and strengthening community identity.
