Description
Idrija has managed to preserve the diverse and unique industrial and technical heritage of its 500-year-old mining history that tells the story of mercury, which was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2012. One of the crucial parts of the mine that has not yet been renovated is the smelting plant, which is in danger of losing its protected properties due to its deteriorating state. The goal of the project is to preserve the endangered cultural monument and enrich it with new content, enhance its modernity and attractiveness, revive its heritage with educational content, increase awareness of the importance of preserving cultural heritage, and enhance tourism opportunities in the area. The activities aimed at different target groups in order to inform the public about the processes involved in mercury ore production and the ecological problems of mercury mining. The re-classified smelting plant area facilities to a museum and a new Visitors’ Centre will benefit tourists, locals, young people, scientists, workers in tourism, local businesses. Restored and renovated smelting plant facilities will be made accessible to the people with disabilities.
Summary of project results
Idrija is a city with a 500-year-old mining history. The mercury mine of Idrija was one of the largest and oldest mercury mines in the world. In 2014, one of the crucial parts of the mine that have not yet been renovated and open to visitors is the smelting plant, a national monument that was in danger of losing its protected properties due to its deteriorated state. The renovation and adaptation of the Idrija smelting plant area was a significant challenge in terms of financing and expertise. With this project, for which we received a funding by FM EGP, we carried out the first phase of renovation of this cultural monument. The project continues after the first phase has been completed. In addition to the regular activities of the new Visitors’ Centre, we are developing new ways of increasing the number of visitors, developing new tourist offers, and are collaborating with new partners to ensure a whole-scale renovation of the smelting plant monument, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The objective of the project was to restore, renovate and protect a national monument, endangered cultural monument of national importance, Idrija smelting plant. The objectives were fully achieved. Outputs of the project are: -renovated cultural monument, -enhanced regional tourist offer with new educational and tourist programmes, -increased awareness on preserving cultural heritage, -increased number of visitors, -increased information, visual and physical access to the cultural monument Profiting from the project are visitors and tourists, local inhabitants, children and school-age youth, scientists, researchers, tourist workers, local enterprises, including persons with special needs for whom special care was given within the limits of the available financial means and possibilities. The Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre will provide more employment possibilities for experts. For school-age youth, youth, their teachers, schools and researchers, the renovated monument and its natural-science educational content will be an important addition to their regular educational content ad research projects. By presenting the mine’s technology in a fun, educational way, project will increase interest in these fields and help fix the imbalance on the job market. An increase in the number of visits will have positive effects also on other local enterprises, such as service providers.
Summary of bilateral results
A partner from Norway, Magma Geopark, has gained a vast array of experience in the field of using digital tools to increase the accessibility of cultural and natural heritage. Magma Geopark contributed its know-how and experience to the project by organizing workshops on the use of two innovative applications: TurfHunt and SmartGuide. Magma Geopark’s know-how in app development and implementation had proved very useful in the Idrija Smelting Plant project, the primary goals of which also included the development and implementation of innovative educational institutions and applications. Partners will deepened cooperation and will continue to work together in future since both sides share similar points of interest in the field of natural and cultural heritage protection. For example, they have already prepared a project proposal together for the Horizon 2020 call. The bilateral funds contributed to strengthened bilateral relations at the project level through formal partnership with Norwegian partner Magma Geopark and through collaboration in common implementation of project activities to increase the overall public interest in cultural heritage. Together with partners and external co-workers, educational activities were prepared and implemented in order to increase the notability of cultural heritage as well as to make UNESCO heritage more accessible. The educational activities have been aimed foremost at young people, with fun content and modern ICT. Bilateral partnership contributed to the project in terms of sharing new knowledge to employees in tourism, in developing tourist marketing plans, in developing tourist programmes and employing modern approaches to tourism, such as use ICT and computer/mobile applications. Partners Magma Geopark’s know-how in app development and implementation had proved very useful in the project.