Pogradec

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Hotel Enkelana (Photo by V. Kulla)

Church (Photo by Bernard Cloutier)

Pogradec (Albanian: Pogradec or Pogradeci) is one of the southeastern cities of Albania. It is the capital of the District of Pogradec, in the County of Korçë, located at 40.87°N and 20.70°E with a population of around 30,000 (2005 est). The total area of the district is 725 km²., Pogradec alone occupies about 15 km². It is by the famous Lake Ohrid. This city is surrounded by hills on the southern and western side. The lake is in the eastern and northern side of the city. The highway linking to Tirana, Elbasan and Korçë passes through the city. It is located SE of Elbasan, SW of Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia, NW of Florina in Greece and N of Korçë. The name of the town comes from the Bulgarian language: Подградец = под (under) and градец (град = town).

1 History
2 Art & Culture
3 Archeology
4 Sport
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

The shores of Lake Lychnidus were inhabited as early as ???. The Illyrian tribe of the Enkelei inhabited the areas near Pogradec. Drilon, the name of the river that flows into the lake near Tushemisht, is mentioned in early texts of antiquity. The hill overlooking Pogradec is the site of old castle ruins dating back to ??. Pogradec was settled or occupied by Macedonian, Roman, Bulgar, Serbian, Ottoman, French, Greek, Italian, and German armies. The city is Albanian from 1912 on. One of the first Albanian language schools was started in Pogradec. During the Greeko-Italian war in 1940-1941 Pogradec and the areas around were the cut in two by the war front. The town was a favorite summer escape for many communist government officials and particularly Enver Hoxha. The summer residences and the area around them were sealed off from the public.

[edit] Art & Culture

Pogradec is well known for its famous writers and poets such as Lasgush Poradeci, Mitrush Kuteli, and lately, Dhimiter Pojanaku, and Liri Seitllari. Their works are a crucial part of Albanian literature. The town is also the home of nationally acclaimed painters like Anastas Kostandini, Gjergji Lako, Gentian Zeka, and Vangjo Vasili. All kinds of sports are practiced in town, especially by the youth. Pogradec has a professional soccer team (currently in the second division) which holds the name Pogradeci. There are several varsity soccer teams mainly composed of high school students. Even volleyball and basketball are played competitively. During the summer, beach volleyball draws the attention of all the residents. Many professional volleyball teams from Albania and other Balkanic countries participate in a championship which lasts about two weeks. Pogradeci team has been awarded the first prize several times. Other sports to mention are swimming and boxing. The boxing team, "Dragoi", is one of the top teams in the nation and has always trained champions. Pogradec has also a rich folklore. Many songs and dances have been created throughout the years and it seems that their themes are based on the beauty of the lake and the love for nature. Lately, with the initiative of "Pirro Xexi" puppet theatre, the "Puppet Theater Festival" has been taking place in town. The participants vary from national to European level.

[edit] Archeology

"In the Balkan Eneolithic period there were settlements on piles at the north end of Lake Ohrid by the outflow; at the east end of Lake Malik by the outflow; on one side of Lake Prespa; on the east side of Lake Kastoria; and on one side of Lake Rudnik (Khimadhitis). The later settlements at Malik were not on piles; the level of that Lake was lower throughout the Bronze Age. When Polybius wrote of the account which was used by Strabo 7.327, there were near the Mt Candavia sector of the Via Egnatia 'the lakes near Lychnidus with their own self-supporting factories for pickling fish'. The two lakes which satisfy this description are Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa.

Castle of Pogradec Castle of Blace village Castle of Zemçë village Fortifications in the village of Selcë e Poshtme Fortifications in the village of Slabinjë Prehistoric settlement in the hills of the village of Zagragja Bridge near the villages Jollë and Llëngë Bridge near the village of Golik Bridge near the village of Niçë Bridge near the village of Çezmë Bridge in the village of Zgallë Bridge in the village of Servatinë Terziu Bridge in the village of Proptisht Cave settlement in Mokra St. Marena Monastery in the village of Llëngë Paleo-christian church and mosaics in the village of Lin Byzantine church in the village of Lin Mosaic in the village of Tushemisht Mosaic of Tren