Author: Timea Cseriova (in collaboration with Joost Nussy and Diego Martín Fernández)
If you’re wondering whether there are still miners’ houses similar to those in Idrija elsewhere, the answer is yes. Mining is indeed part of the cultural heritage of many countries, including Slovakia, Sweden, and Spain. In this article, we will present some examples.
Slovakia
The towns of Banská Štiavnica (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Kremnica, located in central Slovakia, were renowned far and wide between the 13th and 19th centuries for their gold and silver mining. Additionally, after Maria Theresa established the Mining Academy there, the area began to attract engineers from all over the world.
The significance of mining is clearly reflected in local architecture as well. Kremnica and its surrounding areas still boast some well-preserved examples of houses dating back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These houses feature a hallway with access to living spaces and a barn, as well as stairs leading to bedrooms on the first floor. The attic was used for storage. Another characteristic of houses in Kremnica is an open terrace resembling a porch, which was once used for drying laundry or ventilating the house. Such a terrace traditionally faced the street rather than the inner courtyard. For a better understanding, please refer to the photograph below:
Unfortunately, in the last 15 years, Kremnica has lost quite a few traditional miners’ houses due to renovations and restorations that did not respect the original architecture. We hope that these places will embrace their cultural heritage differently in the future and appreciate it more.
Did you know that Idrija has another commonality with Kremnica in Slovakia: lace? Already in the 17th century, Kremnica was involved in lace trading, and later a lace workshop was established in the city, which was responsible for education and the production of fresh lace supplies.
Sweden
In Sweden, they are also proud of their mining heritage. The Falun Mine (Falu Gruva), which at its peak produced two-thirds of all copper for Western Europe, is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the nearby town and surroundings. The mine’s significance contributed to Sweden becoming a global power and provided funds for financing numerous wars the country led in the 17th century.
In addition to the mine, Falun is also known for its distinctive red color called “falu”, recognized by its deep rusty hue, made from iron-rich mining residues. With its protective role, “falu” color was traditionally used to paint wooden buildings, which still play a significant role in this remote region today. The reddish color is not only present on the homes and barns of miners’ communities in Falun but is widespread throughout Scandinavia and even on the east coast of the United States. Although Falun’s houses are different from those in Idrija, they are equally charming.
Take a look at the miners’ community in the picture below:
Spain
Asturias, a region in northwestern Spain, boasts numerous miners’ villages where coal mining was once practiced. For example, the village of Bustiello was built between 1890 and 1925 by a mining company to house its workers. These houses are more modern than other examples and are primarily very functional.
In connection with mining houses, it is interesting to note that in some places, like in Idrija, miners themselves built them, while in other areas, mining companies provided accommodations for workers, as seen in South Limburg in the Netherlands or in the settlements of Giscowiez and Nikiscowiez in Katowice, Poland.
Miners’ communities
Similar to Spain, in various locations, we can find numerous examples of miners’ houses from the 19th and 20th centuries developed by mining companies. During that time, we can refer to miners’ communities, which were mostly built in close proximity to mine entrances. Such examples can be found in the southern Netherlands in Heerlen, where several workers’ colonies are located. The idea was to settle miners in different neighborhoods to reduce the potential for uprisings. In Katowice, we can see examples of the settlements Nikiscowiez and Giscowiez – the former is architecturally beautiful and has been listed on the UNESCO list, while the latter was founded on the idea of a garden city and is at least partially comparable to the mining villages in Asturias.
Picture: Architecture in Nikiszowiec, Katowice. Taken by: Andrzej Stempa
In conclusion
In Europe, we can find diverse examples of miners’ houses. Each of them has its own history and unique background. Although none of the cities mentioned above engage in mining anymore due to economic impracticality or environmental harm, it is clear today that this industry was a crucial factor in these regions and in the lives of the local people. Rich cultural heritage in some places (such as Falun, Banská Štiavnica, Giszowiez) has received recognition for its special value from UNESCO for protection against deterioration. However, there are also cases where mining heritage is simply left to decay (Kremnica). Let’s hope that all local communities will succeed in appreciating their own cultural heritage.
Članek je nastal v okviru projekta “Idrijska krajina – navdih iz preteklosti za trajnostno ustvarjanje mladih”, ki ga je finančno podprlo Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor Republike Slovenije.
