| Žirovnica | |
| Native Name Lang: | sl |
| Pushpin Map: | Slovenia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the town of Žirovnica in Slovenia |
| Coordinates: | 46.4°N 22°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Slovenia |
| Subdivision Type1: | Traditional region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Upper Carniola |
| Subdivision Type2: | Statistical region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Upper Carniola |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Žirovnica |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 550 |
| Population As Of: | 2002 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +01 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +02 |
| Postal Code: | 4274 Žirovnica |
Žirovnica (in Slovenian pronounced as /ʒiˈɾoːu̯nitsa/; German: Scheraunitz[2]) is a settlement in northwestern Slovenia, in the Municipality of Žirovnica. It is located in the historic Upper Carniola region, on the southern slope of the Karawanks mountain range, close to the border with Austria.
Žirovnica was first attested in written sources in 1253 as Zarnonize (and as Zaronitz in 1306–1309, Sernavnicz in 1344). The name developed from *Žьrnovьnica, derived from žьrny 'quern', a metaphorical reference to the shape of the valley where it is located.[3] In the past the German name was Scheraunitz.[2]
During the Second World War, a battle took place between German units and the Partisan Cankar Brigade on 20 February 1942 on nearby Mount Stol, during which the Prešeren Lodge (Slovenian: Prešernova koča)[4] was also burned (it was not rebuilt until 1965). The Partisans burned the wooden railway station in the town on 13 September 1942.[5] After the Second World War, a Yugoslav labor camp for political prisoners operated in Žirovnica.[6]
Notable people that were born or lived in Žirovnica include: