Idrija

Idrija (German and Italian: Idria ) is a municipality and city in the Goriška region in Slovenia. The city was named the Alpine town of the year 2011.

Location

Idrija is situated in the west of Slovenia and belongs to the region Goriška. It is located in the upper part of the river idrijca ( dt: Fetsch Bach) in the transition from the subalpine zone karst region.

Population

In the community consisting of 35 villages and hamlets 12,034 people live (as of 2008). The town of Idrija itself has 5878 inhabitants.

Economic History

The area was known by the mercury finds 1493rd After the locality this is discovered mineral Idrialin named. For 500 years, until its closure in the 70s of the 20th century, the mercury work was the second largest in the world.

In addition, the lace-making is operated here for over 300 years. For 120 years, there is a lace school and the end of August it hosts the most widely known clapper hard ( Čipakarski Festival) instead.

Both issues are illuminated in the city museum.

Mercury mine

The area was known by the mercury finds 1493rd After the locality this is discovered mineral Idrialin named. For 500 years, until its closure, the mercury work was the second largest in the world. In the heyday of the plant revealed nevertheless from 13 percent of the world market. Up to 1,300 people found work there. Part of the old mines can still be seen today. In 2012 it was recorded together with the Spanish Almaden mine in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Health consequences for the population

As one of the historically most prominent examples of chronic poisoning with mercury is considered the Slovene town of Idrija, where in the 1970s was the world's second largest mercury mine until its closure. Early on had to be built on the site a mental hospital, because the adverse health effects of mercury angriff.Schon the nervous system of many workers, the famous physician Paracelsus reported in 1527 from the diseased population " see an example in Idria, all of which are live there crooked and lame. " The situation improved only at the end of the 18th century through improved processing methods.

Environmental degradation

Because mercury was economically highly important for the Habsburgs, the mine was expanded rapidly. As a result much wood was needed for the support of the tunnel and for the firing of the furnaces. The wood needed for this was first brought from the mountains in the immediate vicinity. The lack of wood was increased by the influx of workers ( miners ). The demand for firewood and timber for their accommodation rose. In addition Brandrohdung was operated to make room for accommodation and arable land for the workers.

Already in 1534 there have been complaints about the lack of wood and within a generation ( until about 1550 ) of forest cover was destroyed. Furthermore, there were complaints about " toxic fire smoke," malformations in animals and the decline in harvests. The deforestation has led to erosion and karstification of the soil. The introduction of improved, thus saving wood firing process was prevented to about the year 1650 of the miners, who feared for their jobs.

Structures

• Gewerkenegg castle dating from 1533
• Anthony Bay, the oldest in 1500 driven into a rock downtown tunnel

Memberships

Idrija is involved in the Alpine Town of the Year together with other Alpine towns for the implementation of the Alpine Convention and for the sustainable development of the Alps.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Anton Kautschitz (1743-1814), Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Vienna and Bishop of the Diocese of Ljubljana, Ljubljana Archdiocese today.