The Idrija Municipal Museum has its quarters in Gewerkenegg Castle, which was built in the first half of the 16th century and for more than 400 years housed the administration of the second largest mercury mine in the world. Today, the renovated castle complex offers a survey exhibition of the 500-year history of the mine and the town, which developed alongside the mine. The Museum was honoured with the Luigi Micheletti Foundation Award as the Best European Museum of Technical and Industrial Heritage in 1997.
The new permanent exhibition Idrija Lace, A History Written in Thread tells the story about hand-made Idrija lace, which also boasts a tradition of several centuries. It offers a comprehensive survey of bobbin-work and related activities in the Idrija region, and places Idrija on the European map of lacemaking centres. Special attention is devoted to its creators – lacemakers, who in the past provided miner's families with an additional source of income through their lacemaking activities. In acknowledgement of the exhibition, its creators received the Valvasor Award in 2008 – the highest Slovenian award for achievements in museology.
