The tombs of the last members of the French royal family of the Bourbons can be found in the crypt of the church of Kostanjevica. Charles X came to the throne in 1824 as the third of the brothers (after the death of Louis XVIII). He was an autocratic ruler whose actions did much to increase conflicts with the parliament and in 1830 this brought about the so called July Revolution. The king was forced to give up the throne and together with the entire family left France. They first found refuge in Edinburgh, Scotland; from there they went to Prague, in the current Czech Republic. Finally they came to Gorica where they were received as the guests of Count Coronini. The reason they selected Gorica was probably mild climate as well as the fear of catching cholera raging all across Europe, but not in Gorica.

Seventeen days after their arrival in Gorica, Charles X aged seventy-nine died of cholera as the only victim of this disease then in Gorica. When he was ill in bed dying he was looking out the window and could see Kostanjevica. He expressed his wish to be buried in this monastery church. Thus, Kostanjevica is known as the “Little St. Denis” as all French Kings with the exception of three are buried in the in the Basilica of St. Denis north of Paris. Charles X is the only French king buried outside France and the only king buried in Slovenia. In addition to this last French king, several other members of the Bourbon family found their final resting places in the church crypt next to him being a symbol of power and glory of the royal dynasty.

In 2003, in cooperation with the Municipality of Nova Gorica, the Slovenian Rose Society with its head office in the town of roses, Nova Gorica, started to landscape a part of the kitchen garden made available by the monastery for the rose collection. A collection of old Bourbon roses was planted in the converted garden. Bourbon roses originated on the Île Bourbon (now called Réunion) off the coast of Madagascar and in the time of its origin the island was owned by the French royal dynasty, the Bourbons. These roses decorate the garden along the monastery church in the crypt of which the last King of France and his family together with the last heir to the throne rest.

Bourbon roses are the first link between briar-roses and modern-day roses. The change occurred almost two hundred years ago, in 1817, when a Chinese Old Blush and a European Damask Quatre saison accidentally interbred at Ile de Bourbon.

These roses bloomed all season, with pinkish colours and fragrances. They were revealed to the rest of the world in Paris in 1819 for the first time and again in 1821. Gardeners raised over 1500 different species through backcrossing. Most of them got lost and today the majority of the 80 species are preserved in the collection of our garden. And this collection grows every year.


Thus, the Rosary Garden in Kostanjevica is one of the largest collections in Europe and the world. Since Nova Gorica is a city of roses and has a stylized rose in its coat of arms, the Rose Festival is held in May every year. The main and most visited events take place among the Bourbon roses in the monastery garden.

The Idrija Lace School has been a part of the Jurij Vega Secondary School in Idrija since 1974 and in 1992 it became a member of the international bobbin lace and needle lace organization- OIDFA.

The primary activity of the Idrija Lace School is the education of children in lace-making following the lace-making curriculum for children and young people as well as various adult target groups. A wide selection of quality handmade lace is also offered. The school is active through various activities and projects in Slovenia as well as in Europe, thus connecting with Slovenian and foreign lace-making centres. The head office of the School is in Idrija. The departments of the Idrija Lace School programme for children and young people are located in Idrija, Lower Idrija, Cerkno, Novaki, Ledine, Godovič, Črni Vrh nad Idrijo, Col, Podkraj and Vipava. Annually, the School is attended by about 400 children between the age of 6 and 15. To them the lace-making school is a free time activity to which they dedicate their time. Various forms of education for adults take place in Idrija and depending on the interest also in other places in Slovenia and abroad. In addition to education, the School offers a wide range of quality handmade lace and lace products, professional literature, materials and lace-making tools and patterns, pattern making and other related services. During school terms, the exhibition of the works by school pupils can be visited. The school is active through various activities and projects in Slovenia as well as in Europe, thus connecting with Slovenian and foreign lace-making centres.

The Idrija Town Museum pays special attention to researching and studying Idrija lace. Over the years, an impressive collection comprising a broad range of items – lace pieces, bobbin lace patterns, textiles adorned with lace, lace sales catalogues, bobbin lace-making requisites (baskets, pillows, bobbins), and fashionable products decorated with lace has been created. The collection also includes archival materials related to bobbin-work (certificates, invoices, letters) and works of art inspired by lace. In past years, the Museum has enriched its collection with lace items and lace-making tools from other European lace-making centres, such as Milan, Genoa, Brussels, etc.

Anthony's Shaft was dug in 1500 and has been the oldest preserved entrance to a mine in Europe. Nowadays, it is a start of many visitors who wish to explore the underworld of the second largest mercury mine in the world. A guide takes you through underground tunnels to hidden corners with precious cinnabar ore and droplets of autochthonous mercury and the unique Chapel of the Holy Trinity. You will experience 240 million years of the geological past.

Idrija is a town with the longest mining tradition in Slovenia. Its history is intrinsically linked to 500 years of acquiring the precious metal – mercury. Mercury from Idrija played an important role in the development of world science, economy and medical science and was indispensable in the recovery of gold and silver by mercury amalgamation. The mine attracted most respected technical minds of contemporary Europe to Idrija and in conjunction with local experts they were the authors of technological and technical innovation important at the European level. The proceeds from the sale of mercury filled the coffers of monarchies and states which owned the mine in various periods.
After the mine was closed, extraordinary legacy of the 500-year mining has been preserved and recognised globally. In June 2012, the "Heritage of mercury" in Almadén and Idrija ", the two largest mercury mines in the world, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is the recognition of the uniqueness and exceptionality of the work performed by generations of Idrija miners who created this heritage for almost half a millennium.

You will get to know the importance of this unique liquid metal that has changed the world through experiments, presentations, video clips and devices functioning on the basis of Hg. You will also be presented with its use in science, technology, medical science, culture and every-day life from prehistoric times to present. Hg Smeltering Plant also takes pride in the interactive exhibition and the largest rotary kiln for Hg in the world.

Mercury – Hg (hydrargyrium) is the only metallic element in Earth's crust that is liquid at standard conditions. When cooled down to -38.9°C, it becomes hard as steel and can be forged. Its boiling point is at 356.7°C. Because of its extraordinary density (1 litre of mercury weighs as much as 13.56 kg), the iron sphere can easily float on it. The usability of mercury has been versatile due to its properties – in the extraction of gold and silver, in medicine, cosmetics, dentistry, chemical and military industry and agriculture. Its uniform expansion was exploited in thermometers and its conductivity in electrical industry. The alchemists, however, were convinced that all metals came from mercury and sulphur and that these two elements could be used to make gold and the philosopher's stone.

Nova Gorica, a small town along the border with Italy, has been the heart of the sunny Gorica region for seven decades. It has grown after the World War II as a substitute town for Gorizia, which remained on the other side of the border. It is a town with a mild climate, green and blooming all year round, young, lively and friendly to the local people and visitors from all over the world. Nova Gorica is a younger sister of Gorizia and together they are a unique example in Europe, the two towns are located at the border with no border crossings and in growing harmony at all levels.

Nova Gorica is a town of roses. It is attractive and offers numerous opportunities for entertainment in all seasons with various venues, indoors or outdoors, and a rich selection of events. Concerts, festivals, theatre performances, fairs, exhibitions and other cultural, culinary and ethnological events enrich the lives of the locals and guests. Nova Gorica is a gaming town where two entertainment centres and several casinos offer entertainment with the most modern gaming equipment. A pleasant atmosphere is complemented by excellent cuisine, accommodation and wellness services. Nova Gorica is the right place to see the sights and experience attractions of the town and its surroundings in a genuine way.

In the northeast, Nova Gorica is protected from cold winds by the Trnovo and Banjšica Plateau, a marvellous world with a completely different climate, full of folk traditions and natural attractions which in a special way enrich the hiking destinations. Lovers of peace will be impressed by the widespread Trnovo Forest which invites you to take biking paths and hiking trails where one can get to know rich fauna and flora. Those interested in flora will enjoy visiting the Herbal centre in Grgarske Ravne where they will become familiar with the production, processing and use of medicinal herbs.

The green and wine-growing Vipava Valley stretches out to the eastern part of the town. These nice places are the home of great wines, also of the unique varieties such as »zelen«, »pinela« and »klarnica« that go well with tasty dishes of Vipava.