There are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia. Two of these sites are cultural and only one is natural. You can learn more about each of these sites below.
- Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija (2012)
- Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps (2011)
- Škocjan Caves (1986)
Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija (2012)
This site is shared between two countries: one part of the site is in Spain and the other in Slovenia (Idrija). This is a mining site that was renowned for being a source of mercury wherein it was first discovered in AD 1490. The Slovenian property listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia is noted for its mercury stores and infrastructure, along with a miner’s theater and living quarters. According to UNESCO, the site is an example of intercontinental trade in mercury between Europe and America. This trade activity between two continents went on for several centuries.
Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps (2011)
Although this site is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia, some sites actually belong to other countries namely Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. The property aims to recognize the prehistoric pile dwellings and earlier settlements near the Alps mountain range. These houses were built from 5000 to 500 BC. The houses were set on piles in order to protect against flooding. These are not stilt houses either, but rather built nearby bodies of water such as lakes, river and wetlands.
Škocjan Caves (1986)
This is the only natural site listed within UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia. This exceptional cave system is made out of limestone caves and collapsed dolines. The underground passage stretches up to 6 kilometers. Meanwhile, it has a depth of over 200 meters. There are also waterfalls inside this cave system. The site is a famous site for study by scientists particularly those interested in the karstic phenomena.