Cultural
Patrimoine du mercure. Almadén et Idrija
This cultural heritage site encompasses the mercury mining regions of Almadén in Spain and Idrija in Slovenia, two of the world's most significant centres of mercury extraction and production. The sites preserve the physical and industrial infrastructure associated with centuries of mercury mining, including mines, processing facilities, and related structures that document the technological evolution of this specialized industry. The inscriptions recognize the global importance of these two locations in supplying mercury to international markets and their role in industrial development from medieval times through the modern era. Both mining regions are situated in distinct geographical contexts—Almadén in the plains of central Spain and Idrija in the Slovenian landscape—yet share comparable heritage values related to mining heritage and workers' history. The sites are characterized by their mining shafts, ore processing installations, residential areas built for miners and administrators, and landscapes transformed by extraction activities. Together, they represent a transnational dimension of industrial heritage that illustrates the historical interconnection between these two major mercury-producing regions.
