Cerkno is a settlement, which is located in Cerkno – Idrija Prealps next to the stream Cerknica, near Idrija, at the foot of 1630 meters high Porezen, a mountain that borders to Littoral and Upper Carniola regions. This is where the valley, at the contact with side valleys, widens. Cerkno is an economical and cultural center of Cerkno district, at the same time it is an important cultural center of the Littoral region.
Past Cerkno once led an important route from Soča to Poljane valley, to which warns Roman fort on the nearby Fort. In the Austrian era, Cerkno was a market and the seat of the district court. In the year 1900, lace school was opened. After the capitulation of Italy in the year 1943, Cerkno district became a political and cultural center of the free territory of the 9th corpus. In this area, partisan workshops, hospitals, and medical schools were operating. Many cultural events have also taken place, as well as political and military consultations. After the year 1945, the industry starts to develop.
Cerkno serves as a basis for mountain routes towards Porezen, Blegoš and Črni vrh, mountain biking is also developing. In Cerkno, Cerkno Shrovetide custom laufarija takes place, which is the version of the burial of Shrovetide. Wooden carnival masks and original costumes are characteristic of this festival. In the settlement is a parish church dedicated to St. Anne and belongs to the diocese of Koper. The second church in the settlement is dedicated to St. Bartholomew.
THE NAME
The local name its self points to a former church estate, which derived from Cerьkъvьno (selò/pòl’e) with name meaning ecclesiastically (selo/polje) (en. village/field). According to old written records, the place was in the Middle Ages named Cerknica. In old written sources from the year 1257, it was mentioned under the name Curchinitz (as Chyrchayn in the year 1929, Circhinç in the year 1337 and Circhiniz in the year 1486). From this name, a water name (hydronim) Cerknica derived, as well as regional (horonim) Cerkljansko (Cerkno region). The Italians named the place Circhina. The medieval attestations of the name indicate that the settlement was once called Cerknica.
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