Cultural
Patrimoine du mercure. Almadén et Idrija
This cultural heritage site encompasses two historic mercury mining regions located in Spain and Slovenia, representing the most significant centres of mercury production in Europe. The sites document approximately five centuries of continuous mercury extraction and processing, which profoundly shaped the economic and technological development of both regions. Almadén in Spain and Idrija in Slovenia share comparable mining techniques, industrial infrastructure, and landscapes that bear the marks of intensive mineral exploitation. The heritage includes mining facilities, processing plants, worker settlements, and the natural modifications to the landscape resulting from extraction activities. These sites are recognised for their outstanding universal value in demonstrating the history of global mercury commerce and the technical innovations developed to extract and refine this resource. Together, they provide exceptional testimony to the industrial heritage of European mining operations and their historical significance in world trade networks.
