Three destinations competing for the title 'European Destination of Excellence 2013' 

Press release

Call for applications for the selection of the European Destination of Excellence 2013

EDEN Slovenia In Your Pocket

To present the Slovenian EDEN destinations this summer, the Slovenian Tourist Board published a new presentation brochure that includes the stories behind the four Slovenian EDEN destinations; moreover, it also presents all the features and uniqueness in their offer. The brochure also includes key events in 2013.

Brochure   en

Brochure   ger

Brochure   ita

Brochure   fr

In 2012, for the fifth year in a row, the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB) is participating in the European Destinations of ExcelleNce (EDEN) project. Today, Slovenia prides itself on four EDEN destinations.

The STB has already applied to the new EDEN 2012/13 tender and if the project is approved for Slovenia, STB will begin with its selection activities at the national level at the end of 2012.

The Slovenian EDEN destinations almost all, as a rule, record above-average growth levels of overnight stays, especially by foreign tourists. The Soča Valley, the Solčavsko Region, the Kolpa River and Idrija are destinations that have strengthened their position in Slovenia in the last decade, especially in recent years, through the EDEN network and its promotional support. And they all await the summer with several new features.

Read more in Monthly press news July 2012.

Within the 36th meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia that was held on 30 June 2012, the Unesco World Heritage Committee reached an important decision for Idrija – the 2011 EDEN winner – and Slovenia. The common nomination of Slovenia and Spain, entitled Heritage of Mercury, saw Almaden and Idrija ranked on the list of world cultural and natural heritage under the auspices of Unesco.
 
This is important news for Idrija and Almaden, including their heritage connected to mercury, which can be placed on the list of the most important cultural and natural monuments of all time. At the same time, this achievement is a result of intensive six-year common endeavours of Idrija and Slovenia as well as their Spanish partners. The common nomination of Slovenia and Spain focused on technical heritage connected to mines in Idrija and Almaden, where the largest mercury mines in the world were active until just recently; moreover, they specifically represent the importance of mining, technologies and industries associated with mercury.
 
The Unesco World Heritage Committee has justified the ranking of the Heritage of Mercury Almadén and Idrija (Slovenia/Spain) to the UNESCO list in the following way: `The property includes the mining sites of Almadén, where mercury (quicksilver) has been extracted since Antiquity, and Idrija, where mercury was first found in 1490 A.D. The Spanish property includes buildings relating to its mining history, including Retamar Castle, religious buildings and traditional dwellings. The site in Idrija notably features mercury stores and infrastructure, as well as miners’ living quarters, and a miners’ theatre. The sites bear testimony to the intercontinental trade in mercury, which generated important exchanges between Europe and America over the centuries. The two sites represent the two largest mercury mines in the world and were operational until recent times.`
 
This is another recognition for Idrija, which became the Slovenian EDEN destination in 2011; in 2011, winning destinations were singled out for playing a key role in reviving their region, bringing sustainable development and new life to run-down cultural, historical and natural sites and acting as a catalyst for wider local regeneration.