Sinja Gorica is a settlement in the Municipality of Vrhnika in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia. It lies southwest of the town of Vrhnika, near the Ljubljanica River, and is part of the Central Slovenia statistical region.
Geography
- Coordinates: Approximately 45°57′N 14°28′E
- Elevation: About 329 m (1,080 ft) above sea level
- Area: Roughly 2.8 km² (1.1 sq mi)
Administrative classification
- Country: Slovenia
- Traditional region: Inner Carniola (Notranjska)
- Statistical region: Central Slovenia (Osrednjeslovenska)
- Municipality: Vrhnika
Demographics
- Population: 447 (as of the 2010 census)
Etymology
The Slovene name Sinja Gorica is derived from the adjective sinja, meaning “blue‑gray” or “bluish,” possibly referring to the colour of the local soil or vegetation. The suffix ‑gorica means “small hill” or “little mountain,” indicating a modestly elevated terrain. The German exonym historically used for the settlement was Sinnagoritz.
Cultural and historical notes
- The settlement is primarily residential with agricultural land and mixed forest cover.
- A small chapel‑shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary stands in the village centre; it dates from the early 20th century and is registered as a cultural heritage site by the Slovenian Ministry of Culture.
- Sinja Gorica is connected to nearby Vrhnika and the larger regional road network, providing access to the capital, Ljubljana, situated roughly 20 km to the northeast.
References
- Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, census data (2010).
- Vrhnika municipal site, “Krajevna imena” (local place‑name register).
- Slovenian Ministry of Culture, Register of Cultural Heritage (EŠD 2240).
All information presented is based on established encyclopedic sources.
