Authors: 

Armela Xhaho

Azgan Berbati

Lulzim Logu

Tropoja is considered one of the most remarkable regions of Albania, combining a unique blend of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Its landscape is incredibly spectacular and enormous. It combines largely untouched natural forest and a wealth of rare biodiversity with a history of settlements dating back to the Palaeolithic, ancient culture and traditions embedded in a transhumant way of life.  Tropoja is considered a hidden treasure of northern Albania or the land of legends, poetry, chestnut trees, cultural and living heritage.  The cultural identity of Tropoja is deeply intertwined with its oral traditions, performing arts, and social practices, which have been passed down through generation. 

Tropoja has a rich history dating back to the Illyrian period. Rosuja – the 3000-year-old Ilyian settlement almost forgotten on the mountainside above Bujan. One of the oldest settlements from the 4th century BC, traces of which can be seen to nowadays, belong to the fortress of Rosuja. During the 20th century, it played a significant role in Albania’s resistance against foreign occupation. Archaeological excavations in Rosujë between 1963 and 1964 revealed crucial insights into the town’s origins and development. From the 4th century BC, Rosujë emerged as the region’s primary artisanal, trading, and administrative hub. The discovery of coins from Shkodra, Durrës, and Apollonia highlights the trade links between this area and other Illyrian cities. Additionally, by the 4th-3rd centuries BC, the region had achieved a high level of agricultural development. The fortifying walls constructed over time, along with a substantial layer of ash dating back to the 2nd century BC, provide evidence of the resilience of our Illyrian ancestors in the face of foreign invasions.

Within the territory of Tropoja Municipality, there are approximately 19 cultural monuments (counting for almost half of cultural monuments   for the region) and 30 natural monuments, categorized as biomonuments, geomonuments, and hydromonuments. The region is also home to significant historical sites, such as ancient fortresses and traditional Albanian houses – type of dwelling known as “kulla”.

 House towers in Tropoja   are Important historical landmarks.  Highland towers in Tropoja are categories as Memorial landscapes – places that speak the memory of very important historical events and well known  historical persons. Such landscapes hold a historical and architectural value of traditional buildings in Albania which have a special ethnographic, cultural and historical values. For Albanians, the concept of home has always held a sacred significance, underscoring its profound importance throughout history. Among various types of traditional Albanian dwellings, towers stand out due to their extensive geographical presence. Constructed across different social strata, these towers were not only residential but also served defensive purposes. They embody the spirit of generosity and hospitality that characterizes our culture. The essence of Albanian hospitality, encapsulated in the saying “Bread, salt, and heart,” is deeply intertwined with these towers.  The Towers of Mic Sokoli and Sali Mani are two traditional towers located in the village of Bujan, a few kilometers south of Bajram Curri. The village of Bujan has been mentioned as a dwelling place since the 14th century CE. The tower of  Mic Sokolit: A historic tower house, symbolizing Albanian resistance. Mic Sokoli, born in Bujan, was a notable fighter of the Albanian League of Prizren. He died in battle fighting against the Ottoman forces in 1881 CE. The tower has seen many battles and survived many attacks. As such, it has special patriotic value, not only for the town but the entire country. In fact, the exhibits within the tower-museum focus not only on Sokoli but on exposing the national resistance against invaders. The tower was declared a monument of culture in 1978. The tower of Sali Mani is the place where the Conference of Bujan was held during the Second World War. This is also a building of high patriotic significance for Albania as Sali Mani, uncle to Mic Sokoli and leader of the resistance of 1912, lived there. As such, these towers have special patriotic value, not only for the town but the entire country. 

Bajram Curri Mill: This gorgeous mill was built more than 120 years ago along the beautiful Valbona River. Among locals, it is known simply as Mulliri i Currit. This small center of history and culture is located only 4 km away from the town of the same name. Quite fortunately, the trip is quite worthwhile as the tower stands in one of the most beautiful areas of the entire country. The nature surrounding the tower is simply stunning! This two-story building, typical of the old architecture of the area, was declared a monument of the first category in 1979.

Although not well documented, many natural sites in the area are held to be sacred, testifying to the fact that Tropoja has been considered a place for spiritual inspiration and a life-giving region. Cultural landscapes evoke some of the deepest feelings in human beings. It is here that were these people have experience the annual cycle of nature and belongings. All these functions and experiences taken as a whole make the cultural landscape of Tropoja a living experience of primary territorial identity. It is where they belong, where they feel in a very personal way. 

As regards the intangible cultural heritage, Tropoja is known for its deep-rooted cultural traditions, including folk music, dance, epic poetry, traditional crafts.  Epic poetry in the area is being considered as a map or a document of an ancient cultural heritage that has survived in one form or another through centuries. “Epos of the Kreshniks“, a cycle of legendary epic songs, which is considered one of the most important artistic pillars of the spiritual culture of Albanians.  Local rhapsodies, historians and community member are engaged in narrative performance and interpretation of northern epic cycle “Epos of Kreshniks” – the  “Songs of the Frontier Warriors”, that are  Albanian traditional songs  of the heroic legendary cycle of Albanian epic poetry. North Albanians call the songs “Old Songs”, “Lute Songs”, as they were sung with lute, or the “Songs of Brave Men”. This  masterpiece of spiritual heritage were proposed to UNESCO for inclusion in the world cultural heritage list, along with the lute   They are the product of Albanian culture and folklore orally transmitted down the generations by the Albanian lahutarë (‘rhapsodes’ or ‘bards’) who perform them singing to the accompaniment of the lahutë.  The Albanian traditional singing of epic verse from memory is one of the last survivors of its kind in modern Europe, and the last survivor of the Balkan traditions. The poems of the cycle belong to the heroic genre, reflecting the legends that portray and glorify the heroic deeds of the warriors of indefinable old times. Important research was carried out by foreign scholars like Lord’s remarkable collection of over 100 songs containing about 25,000 verses is now preserved in the Milman Parry Collection at Harvard University.   Due to rapid technological development, this national heritage is in danger of disappearing and in need  for being preserved. Despite the decline and negligence, however, there is still time left to save and preserve this heritage. Throughout northern Albania, old people still perform epic songs of frontier warriors. Modern influences and  high level of corruption are influencing the art, but the tradition is still alive. The songs of frontier warriors that are sung today in late nights throughout far flung hamlets and villages are tunes and echoes from a deep past that we should all try to preserve with pride, cherish them.  

The traditional Tropojan folk dance “Kcimi of Bjeshka” with Tupan of Tropoja, is performed  as a spiritual reminiscence of Ancient Dardanian dances. These Tropoian movements come from early times to the present day, passing this indisputable value of national intangible cultural heritage from generation to generation.This type of dance creates two natural gender extremes “girlish lyricism” and “masculine epicism”, based on the nature of the Albanian Alps, such as the steep slopes of Valbona and its crystal water, showing the mentality that characterizes this area, the temperament and all the characteristics others, which easily belong to this genre of folklore, being one of the main components of national identity. Tropoja Municipality and a working group of artists, performers, folklore carriers, professors, lecturers, etc., have submitted a proposal to the National Committee of Spiritual Heritage at the Ministry of Culture to announce ” The raising of the tropoja drum” as a “Masterpiece of the national spiritual heritage”. The Tropoja dance has been submitted to UNESCO as a protected heritage.

 The harmonic composition and visual integrity of natural and man-made features of the landscape evokes a strong sense of beauty, and the visible interrelatedness of human life with its natural environment is an image of a world in harmony. Tropoja  has an extraordinary cultural and historical wealth showcases traditional Albanian life and artifacts. In such a small space you find such a diverse combination of historical, cultural and spiritual heritage. Like very few other regions in Europe, Tropoja represents such a system as a living way of life in its full complexity and integrity and therefore merits thorough consideration as a world heritage cultural landscape. 

Bujan, Tropojë

Bujan, Tropojë

Tower of Sali Mani 

Tower of Mic Sokoli

Tropojë

Authors: 

Armela Xhaho

Armela Xhaho has been awarded a fellowship at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, where she completed her PhD research on migration issues. Throughout her career, Armela has offered expertise to various global organizations, including IOM; GI-TOC; GIZ; World Vision; CoE; ICMPD; UNICEF; UNODC, etc. Her research work spans multiple countries and includes significant contributions to social sciences, gender, migration and policy advocacy.

Azgan Berbati

Azgan Berbati holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and Ecology. He has served as a representative for students within the University Government (academic senate) and on the Institutional Electoral Commission. He was awarded the “Best Poetry” prize in 2017 and published his collection “The Scream of Silence” in 2019. Additionally, he has co-authored several literary works and is a member of the Albanian-American Writers Association in the United States.

Lulzim Logu

Lulzim Logu has been graduated in Biology since 1984. He has long served as the head of the Writers’ Association, Tropojë branch, and the Literary Club “Tropoja,” and currently leads the the Writers and Artists Club of Tropoja. He is a member of the International Poets’ League, W.P.S, and has been published in across several poetry collections. Logu began writing early on, producing publicist articles, poetry cycles for both children and adults, prose, and literary criticism, and he has published several books.