Pogradec

The city of Pogradec is located in the south-eastern part of Albania, along the shores of Lake Ohrid, the deepest in the Balkans.

The Macedonian border is only 5 km from the city center. Pogradec is one of the favorite tourist resorts in Albania due to the pleasant climate, the extraordinary alpine landscape with ample opportunities for sunbathing, swimming, fishing, water sports etc. The other mountains of Kamja and Guri i Topit overlook the city as if they were a crown.

Archaeological excavations on the hill above the city have unearthed an Illyrian settlement from the 5th century BC. Drilon, the name of the river that flows into the lake near the village of Tushemisht, is mentioned in the first texts of antiquity.

On the top of the hill overlooking Pogradec there is an ancient Illyrian fortress called Encheleana. In the Middle Ages this fortress was rebuilt and the place was renamed by the Bulgarians, who at that time invaded south-eastern Albania.

During the 18th century under Turkish rule, the city became an administrative center, but was largely destroyed during the first and second world wars; however, a number of characteristic houses have been preserved as cultural monuments.

One of the first Albanian language schools was opened in Pogradec. The city has long been the favorite summer getaway of many government officials during the Communist era.

Worthy of mention is the local ‘Koran’ fish, very tasty and found only in Lake Ohrid. Other rare species of fish, birds, fauna and other wild animals are found in the lake and the surrounding area.