Friday, July 20, 2012

Bajram Curri (District of northern Albania)

The town is named for the national hero of the same name, Bajram Curri, a freedom fighter who fought for ethnic northern Albanian interests, first against the Ottoman Empire and later against the new Albanian government. He shot himself near the town in order to avoid capture, and the town was renamed after him.

Due to its physical and cultural proximity to Kosovo, the area was adversely affected by the conflict in Kosovo, with many of its residents involved either directly in combat or in assisting and housing refugees from Kosovo.

The Tropoja area is culturally and historically closer to Kosovo than to southern Albania.


Bajram Curri is an important hub for the traveller, as you are likely to change minibuses (furgons) here from 3 directions. They all tend to depart around the same times, so with luck you can transfer straight from one to another :-

    Gjakova and Prizren in Kosovo
    Shkodra via lake Komani, and onward to Tirana
    Valbona

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