Pogradeci
On the
top of the hill overlooking Pogradec there is an ancient Illyrian
fortress believed to have been known as
Encheleana.
In the Middle Ages this fortress was reconstructed and the place
was renamed by the Bulgarians, who invaded Southeastern Albania
at this time. ( Pogradec, Pod Grad -
the place
beneath the fortress ).
During the Eighteenth century under Turkish occupation, the town
became an administrative centre, but was largely destroyed ruing
the World War I, again during the Italian-Greek War of 1940-1941
and twice during the National Liberation War (1941-1944);
however a number of characteristic houses have been preserved
as cultural monuments. Pogradec has a population of 15,000 inhabitants.
It is
a centre of the food industry, noted for its canned fruits, vegetables
and dairy products. There are also factories producing furniture,
tobacco and knitwear.
Pogradec
has an excellent bathing beach and has a great future as a tourist
centre. The environment offers an alpine like scenery of rare
beauty. The lofty mountains of Kamja and Guri i Topit stand over
it like a crown.
with
grateful acknowledgement to
www.albania.co.uk
for
text received from this site
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