Pogradec: history, tradition, tourism

albanian.cri.cn

Pogradec, the town of the lake, the mountain, culture and tradition, but also the town of poets. The locals call it a true pearl, and it is no accident that Lasgush and Mitrush wrote about this town. Pogradec is beautiful not only by nature; it is also an ancient town with long-standing cultural and artistic traditions. Pogradec is the town of flowers, of wine, of the rare koran fish, which can hardly be found anywhere else, but also the town of hospitality.

History

Pogradec has an ancient history and a wealth of cultural, geological and natural records. It was inhabited in the Palaeolithic period, when the first pile-dwelling settlements were built at Buqeza. Archaeological excavations on the hill above the town have uncovered an Illyrian settlement of the 5th century BC, belonging to the ancient tribes of the Dassaretae, who at that time populated today's Mokra, and the Enchele. The latter were a tribe who lived within the walls of the castle built on top of the hill near the town, to its north-west. Their towns, Pelion and Enkelana, became important urban centres in the 4th–3rd centuries BC.

The town was once confined to the size of the castle, of which only ruins now remain. As the population grew and the wars ended, the need to expand arose. Over the following centuries the inhabitants of the village came down to the foot of the hill and created the town of Pogradec along the shore of Lake Ohrid. Archaeological finds confirming settlement in this region date from the Neolithic period (6000 BC), with growing population and construction during the Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages. In the central Middle Ages, between the 9th and 11th centuries, Pogradec went through a period of Bulgarian occupation, from which it inherited a number of Slavic place names, including the name Pogra-Dec itself, meaning "the town below the castle", since even today the town lies beneath its ancient medieval castle.

Pogradec later became part of the Principality of the Muzaka family, whose fall opened the way to the long Ottoman occupation, which lasted until 1912.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Pogradec faced Italian, Greek and German military occupations. After the war, Pogradec experienced the industrial revolution of the communist period

Culture and Tradition

Pogradec has a very rich folk tradition, with a variety of folk costumes and melodious songs and dances inspired by the natural beauty of the area. The artistic tradition of Pogradec has produced many painters and writers of poetry and prose, such as Lasgush Poradeci, the greatest Albanian lyric poet, not forgetting Mitrush Kuteli. Artistic elements can also be found in the town's architecture. Pogradec, with its rich tradition of crafts, is worthily represented today by its woodcarving artists. Pogradec has a museum rich in finds from antiquity and from the war years, the old Orthodox church of Saint Mary in the old quarter of the town, and a new church with very distinctive architecture called the Resurrection.

Tourism

The lakeside town remains one of the most hospitable in Albania. The impressive views and crystal-clear waters of the lake make Pogradec one of the towns most visited by domestic and foreign tourists. Pogradec and its surroundings are a year-round tourist attraction for the nature, culture and history that give it grandeur, while the lake gives it its charm. Pogradec remains one of the most elite towns in Albania, with its culture, tradition and natural beauty, where visitors find rest in all four seasons of the year.

There are many attractions in Pogradec, from its historical and cultural sites, the old town, the 2,400-year-old castle, the Basilica of Lin and the royal tombs of Selca, to the Lake of Pogradec itself, now a UNESCO heritage site. All this makes Pogradec a centre of cultural and nature tourism.

Many tourists choose this town not only for the beach but also for the tourist spots of Tushemisht and Drilon. Besides the natural beauty and food it offers, Tushemisht has become known and loved by everyone thanks to the films "Zonja nga qyteti" (The Lady from the City) and "Shoqja nga fshati" (The Comrade from the Village). Today many people visit the houses where these two films were shot and take photos with the bust of Auntie Ollga.

Meanwhile, four kilometres east of Pogradec lies the tourist spot of Drilon, where nature has not held back on beauty. The many ornamental trees and different plants are in perfect harmony with the crystal-clear waters of the Drilon river, and the footpaths, the characteristic wooden bridges and the birds make it one of the most visited places in the town. Pogradec remains a favourite destination for tourists in winter too, especially when it snows. The picturesque view of the lake and the snow gives the town a wonderful backdrop.

Food is another of Pogradec's attractions. As well as enjoying the magic of the town, tourists also come for its traditional cuisine. The favourite remains the koran fish, the symbol of Pogradec, though the belushka is not far behind; it is cooked fresh in all kinds of ways. Pogradec, Tushemisht and Drilon, with their nature, food, hospitality and the lake that lends them all their charm, remain among the favourite attractions in Albania for tourists.

Elida Lazi