Čermak Špirekova peč, Industrial heating furnace in Idrija, Slovenia.
Čermak Špirekova furnace is a mercury processing installation built to extract mercury from raw ore through heating. The structure contains separate chambers that worked together to separate the liquid metal from the surrounding rock through controlled heat application.
Built in 1886, this furnace was a major breakthrough in mercury processing that spread to mining operations across Europe. The design quickly became a model for other facilities seeking to improve their efficiency and output.
This furnace was central to how the town earned its living from mercury extraction for centuries. The knowledge and skills passed down through mining families became woven into local identity and pride.
The best time to visit is during warmer months when access is easier and you can freely explore the site. A visitor center at the location provides explanations and guided tours to help you understand how the furnace operated.
This is the only surviving furnace of the Čermak-Špirek type, a design that revolutionized mercury extraction in the 1800s. Its preservation makes it a rare window into a processing method that has been abandoned everywhere else.
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