Peshkopi

Peshkopi is a town in the mountains of northeastern Albania, in Dibër County. It is special because it is the capital of the county and the district of Dibër. It is the only county capital in Albania that does not share its name with the county.

The town lies east of the Black Drin river, about 187 kilometres northeast of Tirana, Albania's capital, and only 20 kilometres from the Macedonian border. Peshkopi sits at an elevation of 651 metres above sea level.

Peshkopi is known for its warm thermal waters, farming all year, and beautiful natural surroundings. It is becoming a popular place for tourists who enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, camping, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Nearby, you can find Mount Korabi, the third tallest mountain in the Balkans, and the birthplace of Gjerg Kastrioti, a national hero of Albania. The area also has important mineral resources such as chromium, sulfur, and marble, and it helps Albania's agriculture.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1950	1,427	—
1960	3,514	+146.3%
1969	5,600	+59.4%
1979	7,800	+39.3%
1989	12,320	+57.9%
2001	14,017	+13.8%
2011	13,251	−5.5%
2023	14,710	+11.0%
Source:

History

The name Peshkopi comes from the word peshkop, meaning bishop in Albanian. Old maps from the 1100s show the town had a different name, Presolengrad. By 1020, the area became part of a church group led from Ohrid, and Peshkopi grew as an important church center. Even after the church center moved, the town kept its name. We know about Peshkopi as early as the 1400s under the name Peskopia.

Long ago, the area was home to an ancient tribe called the Penestae. By the 1500s, the Ottoman Empire ruled the land. Peshkopi was a small market town, smaller than nearby Debar. Most people there followed the Muslim faith by 1583. In 1873, the Ottomans built a large military camp there.

In the early 1900s, people in Albania fought against Ottoman rule. Albanian fighters took control of Peshkopi on August 16, 1912. Later, armies from Serbia, Bulgaria, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire entered the town. After World War I, Italian forces invaded Albania and reached Peshkopi in 1939. During World War II, Albanian resistance fighters took back the town in 1943. German forces briefly occupied Peshkopi in 1944 but were pushed out soon after. The fighting ended in early September 1944, with Albanian resistance groups taking control.

Geography

Peshkopi is a town in northeastern Albania, in Dibër County. It is in the valley of the Drin river, at the bottom of the Korab mountains. About 14,000 people live there.

The Korab mountains, some of the tallest in the Balkans, are to the east. The Drin River, Albania’s longest river, flows through the valley. It gives water for farms and helps make power. The soil in the valley is rich and good for growing food like corn, wheat, and vegetables.

Climate

Education

Peshkopi has many schools where children can learn subjects like math, science, and language. Schools also have activities such as sports, music, and art. Education is important in Peshkopi, and the government works to make schools better.

Tertiary

Peshkopi once had a small part of Aleksandër Moisiu University, but it closed in 2017.

Secondary (grades 10-12)

Said Najdeni High School
Nazmi Rushiti Professional School

Elementary/middle (grades 1-9)

Selim Alliu
Demir Gashi

Tourism

People visit this area to enjoy the mountains. The land is hilly and has big forests. The Dibra district has two special places for nature lovers: Lurë National Park and Korab-Koritnik Nature Park. These parks are good for activities like climbing, walking, and skiing.

Lure-Dejes Mt National Park

There is a museum near a school. It shows local clothes, carpets, kitchen tools, and shiny jewelry. In the middle of Peshkopi, Elez Isufi Boulevard is a street for walking. It has tall linden trees and stones from far away. Nearby, there are warm mineral water springs and special baths that people visit for their health. These baths are a short walk from the city, along a small stream.

Sports

Main article: KF Korabi Peshkopi

The most popular sport in Peshkopi is football. The town's main team is KF Korabi Peshkopi. They play at Korabi Stadium. The team competes in the Albanian First Division. They were runners-up in 1961 and also in the 2015–16 Albanian First Division, moving on to the Albanian Superliga. The club also uses the Bashkim Lala Sports Palace for other sports.

Transportation

Peshkopi is an important place for travel because many roads meet there. These roads connect Albania with Kosovo and North Macedonia. The nearest big airport is Rinas Mother Teresa International Airport in Tirana, about 200 km west of Peshkopi. Regular buses go from Peshkopi to cities like Tirana and Durrës.

Buses go from Peshkopi to Tirana and Durrës. They leave in the morning at set times. There are also minibuses and vans called furgona that go to more places. They leave when they have enough passengers. These minibuses to Tirana and Durrës usually cost a bit more than the buses.

The main road to Peshkopi is SH6 (State Road 6). A new highway named the Arbër Highway, or Rruga e Arbërit in Albanian, is being built. It should finish in Spring 2023. This 200 km road will connect Tirana to Debar in North Macedonia and link up with SH6.

There are no trains that go to Peshkopi.

Notable people

Peshkopi has been home to many interesting people. Some of them are Gëzim Alpion, an academic, and Cen Elezi, a leader in Dibra. Others include Bashkim Gazidede, a politician, and Elez Isufi, a nationalist figure.

The town has also seen Denisa Kola, who was Miss Albania in 2003, and several footballers like Gentjan Manuka, Elvis Prençi, and Qazim Laçi. Symir Zuna was a fighter in World War II, and there are also notable academics and military officials from the area.