Litija
Slovenia's geographic center mined lead since Roman times until 1965 closure; now Sitarjevec Mine's mineral deposits draw tourists instead of extractors.
Litija claims the geographic center of Slovenia—a distinction more symbolic than economic, but meaningful for a town whose mining industry closed in 1965. For centuries, tunnels probed above and below the Sava River, extracting lead and barite from what became one of Europe's richest mineral deposits. The Sitarjevec Mine operated since Roman times; its closure marked the end of extractive economy that had defined the region.
The town now markets its centrality differently. Located in the Sava valley east of Ljubljana, Litija serves as both heritage destination and quiet residential alternative to the capital. Small businesses and sustainable agriculture employ residents. The mine shafts that once extracted wealth now attract tourists seeking geological education—minerals and stalactites displayed where miners once worked.
The Sava River runs through, connecting Litija to the broader hydropower network that Slovenia developed throughout the 20th century. New run-of-river projects continue permitting along the middle Sava, adding renewable generation to the national grid while maintaining the river's role as regional connector.
By 2026, Litija will likely continue its post-mining transition: a town whose purpose shifted from extraction to location. Being central matters when extraction ends—proximity to Ljubljana (30 kilometers) provides commuter possibilities that peripheral mining towns lack. What survives is heritage tourism and the advantages of geography that mining originally exploited.