Idrija

We have spent the last 4 days wandering this very old town listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The mercury mine was the second largest mercury mine in the world. A tub maker soaking his tub discovered  a shimmery substance back in 1490. The spot where the mercury was found is now the site of a church. Working for nearly 500 years  the mine closed in 1995 when the use of mercury was banned across the world. We visited the smelter where they extracted the mercury from the rock by means of vapour then solidified it. Interesting fact mercury stays liquid until temperature drops to -40.

  We visited the Gewerkenegg Casle (in German means mining castle) which was about the only castle that did not house aristocrats. Building started in 1493 and was added to over the years by the mine owners. It was used for the accommodation of the mine administration and storing of mercury and wheat. It now houses the museum  showcasing the mercury,  war, earlier life in Idrija and the lace. We also visited a miners hut, the biggest wooden waterwheel built in 1800, the smelter and went down in the mine. 

I was in lace heaven here. The lace in Idrija is very famous and unique. All of the women and girls made lace to help with the family finances. Girls and some boys would learn from a very young age. So a lace making school was set up. Even now many school age girls spend hours after school learning how to make lace. Nev and I participated in a lace class, Nev made a bracelet and I started a fish but fumbled through it. It was a very different feel as I am used to working with smaller bobbins on a flat surface. In my excitement I forgot to take photos of my work. We sampled some zlikrofi...... a potato stuffed dumpling made by the miners wives. Traditionally served with a lamb or cheese or mushroom sauce and made in a characteristic  shape. There is also a special cake with lace on top found only in Idrija.

We found a vending machine selling eggs!

The temperature was unusually hot..around 33-35 deg. The town was very quiet for summer holidays. We went for ride out to the wild lake where we found a lot of people cooling off. I recommend people take the free bus out as the road is very winding and narrow. Many a car had to reverse and pull off the road to let the bus through.

Cheese, salami, shnapps, yoghurt and masunjek.

Today we walked up the very steep hill to a local dairyfarm that sell cheese, yoghurts, salami and eggs. They also do cheese tastings. The building originally was built in the 1100s but has been renovated along the way. So of course we had give it a go.

First we started with some schnapps then tucked into some yoghurt and trying some masunjek which was made from some sour cream, cream and cornflour (it is usually made from buckwheat)

 We then tasted different cheese and salami with some homemade bread and butter.

To quench our thirst we were offered some elderflower syrup and water. Next to the house was a church built in the 800s. It is hard to imagine a building that old is still standing. On our walk back down the donkeys came up to say hello. I loved the fringe on the babies. From the top of the hill we could see down into the town below.

We then drove to the lake to watch a man make masunjek. He used cream and buckwheat flour. He told the story of how a lady came up with the dish by accidentally tipping cream to be heated instead of milk so she added flour and it turned out fine. It has now become a traditional dish.  More tastings.... luckily it was only a little. I quite liked the flavour

This arch is 300 years old!

Cheese Tasting

Todays activity was cheese tasting at a local dairyfarm. Unfortunately they had sold out of their young cheese so we tasted aged cheese, apricot yoghurt, vanilla chocolate yoghurt,  chocolate pudding and sour milk. Otis enjoyed looking at all the animals.