Prrenjas (also written ''Përrenjas'', sq-definite, Përrenjasi) is a town and a municipality in

Elbasan County Elbasan County () is one of the 12 counties of Albania. The population is 266,245 (2021), in an area of 3199 km². Its capital is the city Elbasan. Administrative divisions Until 2000, Elbasan County was subdivided into four districts: Elbas ...

, eastern

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Prrenjas,

Qukës Qukës is a former municipality in the Elbasan County, eastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Prrenjas Prrenjas (also written ''Përrenjas'', sq-definite, Përrenjasi) is a town and a muni ...

Rrajcë Rrajcë is a village and a former municipality in Elbasan County, in eastern Albania. As of the 2015 local government reform, it became a subdivision of the municipality of Prrenjas. The population at the 2019 census was 12,121.

and Stravaj, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Prrenjas. The total population is 24,906 (2011 census), in a total area of 323.17 km². The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 5,847.

History

The history of the creation of the city Prrenjas dates back a long time. In the period of the Ottoman Albanian wars, the area where the city rises was called Torviolli. The native hero,

Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg , reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468 , predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti , successor = Gjon Kastrioti II , spouse = Donika Arianiti , issue = Gjon Kastrioti II , royal house = Kastrioti , father ...

, before heading for battle (the battle is known in history as Battle of Torvioll) told to his fighters, that the battle must be won. A significant history has been written here. Fusha e Domosdovës

The name of the town of Prrenjas is closely related to the same battle that the Skanderbeg army won. Many Turkish and Albanian soldiers were killed. There were so many soldiers killed that is believed to have been flowing a river of blood. Prrenjas is also famous for being connected to the

Via Egnatia The Via Egnatia was a road constructed by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. It crossed Illyricum, Macedonia, and Thracia, running through territory that is now part of modern Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, and European Turkey as a continu ...

road that stretched from

Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...

all the way on to

Durrës Durrës ( , ; sq-definite, Durrësi) is the second most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is located on a flat plain along the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast between the mouths of ...

. The people of Prrenjas also participated in the

Albanian Declaration of Independence The Albanian Declaration of Independence ( Albanian: ''Deklarata e Pavarësisë'') was the declaration of independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. Independent Albania was proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Six days later the Ass ...

in the 28 of November 1912.

Historical Places

*Skanderbeg's Table *Domosdova field (where the Battle of Torvioll took place)

Points of Interest

* Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park *Skanderbeg's Table *Statue of Miners *Abandoned mine of Prrenjas

Transportation

Bus

There are buses in Prrenjas that can take you in other cities in

and other countries.

Trains

There is no train line that can goes to or from Prrenjas. Elbasan-Pogradec extension has been closed

Highways

The only main road in Prrenjas is the SH3 (State Road 3) that starts in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

and ends in

Korçë Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau som ...

and passes by Prrenjas.

Sports

Prrenjas favourite city sport is football. The main soccer team KF Domozdova founded in 1923 disbanded in 2018 due to financial problems. Following the disbandment of the football club, the city stadium was demolished to make way for the construction of the new city center.

Notable people

* Halit Berzeshta, physician and activist of the

Albanian National Awakening The Albanian National Awakening ( sq, Rilindja or ), commonly known as the Albanian Renaissance or Albanian Revival, is a period throughout the 19th and 20th century of a cultural, political and social movement in the Albanian history where the ...

*Qybra Sokoli, partisan during the War of Liberation

References

Municipalities in Elbasan County Administrative units of Prrenjas Towns in Albania {{Elbasan-geo-stub