Idrija

Idrija (, in older sources Zgornja Idrija; , ) is a town in western Slovenia. It is the seat of the Municipality of Idrija. It is notable for its mercury mine with stores and infrastructure, as well as miners' living quarters, and a miners' theatre. Together with the Spanish mine at Almadén, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. Idrija is also known for Idrija Lace, a bobbin tape lace which is registered under protected geographical indication by the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office. In 2011, Idrija was given the Alpine Town of the Year award.

==Geography== thumb|left|The Idrijca River seen from St. Anthony's Church The town of Idrija lies in the Idrija Basin, surrounded by the Idrija Hills, in the traditional region of Inner Carniola and in the Gorizia Statistical Region. Today, its inhabitants mostly consider it part of the Slovene Littoral. It is traversed by the Idrijca 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 and Wild Lake on the Idrijca River south of the town.