Cerknica (pronounced [ˈtseːɾknitsa] ^ⓘ; Italian: Circonio, German: Zirknitz^[2]) is a town in the Karst region of southwestern Slovenia, with a population of 4,018 (2016 census). It is the seat of the Municipality of Cerknica. It belongs to the traditional region of Inner Carniola.^[3]

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Cerknica
From top, left to right: Cerknica skyline, Nativity of Mary Church, Udovič House, Gerbič House, Cerknica Lake
Flag Coat of arms
Cerknica Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°47′47″N 14°21′29″E
Country	Slovenia
Traditional region	Inner Carniola
Statistical region	Littoral–Inner Carniola
Municipality	Cerknica
Area
• Total	14.8 km2 (5.7 sq mi)
Elevation	558.8 m (1,833.3 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,018
• Density	270/km2 (700/sq mi)
Vehicle registration	LJ
Climate	Cfb
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Cerknica was first attested in written sources as Circhinitz in 1040 (and as Czirknicz in 1145, Cyrknitz in 1261, and Cirnizza in 1581). The name is derived from *Cerkvnica, a univerbation of *Cerkvna (vas) 'church village'. A church was established very early in Cerknica, probably already in the 9th century. The original structure was burned down in an Ottoman attack in 1472.^[4]

There are three churches in Cerknica. The parish church is dedicated to the Nativity of Mary.^[5] It stands at the top of a hill in the center of Cerknica at the site of a former fortification against Ottoman raids. It is a late Gothic hall church, a triple-naved structure with lierne vaulting built between 1480 and 1520 at the site of an earlier church that was burned during an Ottoman attack in 1472. A Baroque chapel was added to the church in the 18th century and the church's furnishings date from the 19th century.^[6]

The other two churches are chapels of ease dedicated to John the Baptist and Saint Roch.^[5] Saint John the Baptist Church is a cemetery church south of the main settlement. A chapel was mentioned at the site in a visitation report of 1581; the church itself was built in 1642. It has a rectangular nave, a polygonal chancel walled on three sides, and a bell tower. The interior combines groin vaulting and barrel vaulting with spandrels.^[7] Saint Roch's Church stands in the northern part of Cerknica. It was built between 1630 and 1644 at the site of a plague chapel dating to 1578. It has a rectangular nave, a polygonal chancel walled on three sides, and a bell tower. The altar painting of Saint Roch is a 1763 work by Anton Cebej.^[8]

• Nativity of Mary Church
• Saint John the Baptist Church

Notable people that were born or lived in Cerknica include:

• France Arhar (born 1948), banker and politician
• Jože Udovič (1912–1986), poet