Castle Gewerkenegg is located on a small hill in the old town centre of Idrija. The renaissance castle was built in the 16th century for the mine management and the storage of mercury. Castle Gewerkenegg was also a centre of trade with mercury in Idrija. The castle was through the centuries rearranged and upgraded. Courtyard facades were painted in the other half of the 18th century with frescoes, which are now restored and reconstructed. Today is in the castle seat of the Municipal Museum Idrija, which was proclaimed for the best European museum of engineering and industrial heritage in the year 1997. The museum was established in the year 1953. In its care are cultural, historical monuments, technical monuments, natural remarkablenesses and preserved buildings from the Second World War. In the museum they have the permanent exhibition named Five centuries of the mercury mine and the town of Idrija. Photographs of Idrija, exhibited documents, maps and original objects illustrate mining history, the development of floating timber and forestry. In the geological collection are presented minerals, mercury ores, rocks and fossils. In the castle are held many cultural events in the summer time, which attract many domestic and foreign visitors.
Photos
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Idrija - Castle Gewerkenegg Castle Gewerkenegg - Idrija - Castle Gewerkenegg]()
Idrija - Castle Gewerkenegg
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg]()
Castle Gewerkenegg
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - East tract Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - East tract]()
Castle Gewerkenegg - East tract
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - North tract Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - North tract]()
Castle Gewerkenegg - North tract
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - Tower at northeast side Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - Tower at northeast side]()
Castle Gewerkenegg - Tower at northeast side
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - West tract Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - West tract]()
Castle Gewerkenegg - West tract
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Entrance in Castle Gewerkenegg Castle Gewerkenegg - Entrance in Castle Gewerkenegg]()
Entrance in Castle Gewerkenegg
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Passage to the castle yard Castle Gewerkenegg - Passage to the castle yard]()
Passage to the castle yard
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle yard with small tower with clock Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle yard with small tower with clock]()
Castle yard with small tower with clock
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle yard Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle yard]()
Castle Gewerkenegg - Castle yard
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Stairs to the entrance on the east side of the castle Castle Gewerkenegg - Stairs to the entrance on the east side of the castle]()
Stairs to the entrance on the east side of the castle
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Old Town Centre of Idrija from Castle Gewerkenegg Castle Gewerkenegg - Old Town Centre of Idrija from Castle Gewerkenegg]()
Old Town Centre of Idrija from Castle Gewerkenegg
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Brook on east side of the castle Castle Gewerkenegg - Brook on east side of the castle]()
Brook on east side of the castle
![Castle Gewerkenegg - Kindergarten on the west side of Castle Gewerkenegg Castle Gewerkenegg - Kindergarten on the west side of Castle Gewerkenegg]()
Kindergarten on the west side of Castle Gewerkenegg
Data
Municipality: IDRIJA (11757 population)
Settlements in the municipality:
Idrija (5839 population), Spodnja Idrija (1414), Godovič (725), Črni Vrh (692), Zadlog (283),
Spodnja Kanomlja (250), Vojsko (238), Srednja Kanomlja (155), Predgriže (152), Dole (139), Gorenja Kanomlja (134), Čekovnik (134), Idrijske Krnice (133), Zavratec (131), Jelični Vrh (121), Gorenji Vrsnik (119), Gore (117), Lome (110), Ledine (93), Idrijski Log (83), Govejk (82), Idrijska Bela (71), Ledinske Krnice (70), Razpotje (69), Masore (65), Mrzli Vrh (55), Spodnji Vrsnik (46), Idršek (38), Pečnik (34), Korita (26), Ledinsko Razpotje (26), Potok (24), Mrzli Log (24), Žirovnica (23), Strmec (22), Rejcov Grič (13), Kanji Dol (6), Javornik (1)