Żarnów [ˈʐarnuf] is a village (a town in 1415–1876) in Opoczno County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Żarnów. It lies approximately 18 kilometres (11 mi) south-west of Opoczno and 77 km (48 mi) south-east of the regional capital Łódź. The village has a population of 870 and belongs to historic province of Lesser Poland. Its name most probably comes from the phrase miejsce żarne - burned-out area, and refers to burning of forests in Slavic times, to make fields. Żarnów has a long history, in the early years of Polish state it was a major urban center of the country.