Anthony’s Shaft & Mercury Smelter – Idrija Mercury Mine

Step into Anthony’s Shaft, the oldest preserved tunnel of Slovenia’s 500‑year‑old mercury mine, and feel the pulse of the world’s second‑largest cinnabar deposit. Dim galleries, echoing drips and life‑size mannequins bring the miners’ daily grind to life. Back at daylight, the imposing Hg Smelter tells the next chapter: red ore fired into shimmering quicksilver that once travelled to every corner of the globe. Today Idrija proudly bears UNESCO World Heritage status, sharing a story of ingenuity, risk and the metal that flowed like liquid light.