Situated in the western part of Slovenia, Cerkno Municipality covers a total area of 132 square kilometres and has a population of 5,040 people (2002). It is the administrative, economic and cultural centre of the Cerkljanska region.

Cerkno lies in the passage between the Alpe and Primorje regions. Above the Idrijca River there is an entrance to a cave called Divje Babe ('Wild Old Women') where palaeolithic remains of the glacial period have been found. In the 14th century Cerkljanska was the most densely populated region of Slovene territory. From 1420 until 1509 it belonged to the administration of Venice and after that the region fell under Habsburg rule for three centuries. During the Second World War Cerkno was a very important partisan base. For the needs of the army, there were many partisan workshops and schools. A partisan hospital here is preserved as a museum. The Laufarji ('Runners') carnival costumes have been preserved throughout the centuries. The Runners family is made up of 24 people wearing wooden masks (larfa) - see Cerkno Museum.