Miren

Miren
View of Miren with Miren Castle from the Karst Plateau
Miren Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°53′46.15″N 13°36′25.9″E / 45.8961528°N 13.607194°E / 45.8961528; 13.607194Coordinates: 45°53′46.15″N 13°36′25.9″E / 45.8961528°N 13.607194°E / 45.8961528; 13.607194
Country	Slovenia
Traditional region	Littoral
Statistical region	Gorizia
Municipality	Miren-Kostanjevica
Area
• Total	2.48 km2 (0.96 sq mi)
Elevation	50.3 m (165.0 ft)
Population (2002)
• Total	1,498

Miren (pronounced [ˈmiːɾən]; Italian: Merna) is an urbanized settlement in the Municipality of Miren-Kostanjevica in the Littoral region of Slovenia right next to the border with Italy. The hill known as Miren Castle (Slovene: Mirenski grad) rises above the settlement to the south.

The settlement was attested in written sources in 1494 as Merinach an der Wippach, and in 1523 as Japinitz oder Merina. The name is believed to have arisen through ellipsis of a noun phrase (e.g., *miren grad 'walled castle'), leaving the adjective *miren 'walled' (< *myrьnъ). If so, the name refers to the walls of Miren Castle above the settlement. A less likely theory derives the name from *Marijin 'Mary's', referring to the pilgrimage church above the settlement.

The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint George and belongs to the Diocese of Koper. It was built between 1827 and 1828.

Notable people that were born or lived in Miren include: