Libohovë

Libohovë
Municipality

Seal
Libohovë
Coordinates: 40°2′N 20°16′E / 40.033°N 20.267°E / 40.033; 20.267Coordinates: 40°2′N 20°16′E / 40.033°N 20.267°E / 40.033; 20.267
Country  Albania
County Gjirokastër
Government
  Mayor Luiza Mandi (SP)
Area
  Municipality 248.24 km2 (95.85 sq mi)
Elevation 408 m (1,339 ft)
Population (2011)
  Municipality 3,667
  Municipality density 15/km2 (38/sq mi)
  Administrative unit 1,992
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 6003
Area code 0881
Vehicle registration GJ

Libohovë is a town and a municipality in southern Albania. Libohovë is dominated by an impressive fortress, Libohovë Castle. In addition it has a pleasant and leafy main street with extensive views looking west across the Drino valley. To reach the town travel approximately 15 km south from Gjirokastra, take the sign-posted road to the east across the valley; this takes one directly to the town. Libohovë is nestled at the foot of the Bureto Mountain. The region forms also part of the Zagori Regional Nature Park[1] located in Zagori region.

The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Libohovë, Qendër Libohovë and Zagori, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Libohovë.[2] The total population is 3,667 (2011 census), in a total area of 248.24 km2.[3] The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 1,992.[4]

History

The archaeological evidence indicates a very ancient settlement which reached its zenith in the 17th-century. It is the home of a well-known Albanian noble family who share their name with the town. Prior to the communist era they held considerably sway over the country’s politics.The castle is a substantial fortress with four polygonal corner towers and a curtain wall surrounding a wide courtyard. The sister of Ali Pasha of Tepelenë, Shanica, married one of the most important members of the Libohovë family and the castle was the dowry that Ali Pasha presented to her. It is possible to visit the grave of Ali Pasha’s sister; you will need to ask in the town for directions.In the town centre is a beautiful old plane tree around which a bar-restaurant has been built providing a very pleasant place for refreshments. Also in the centre is the house of Myfit Bey Libohovë (1876–1927), a renowned politician, the first Minister of Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs serving on the new Albanian Government of 1912. The building can be easily identified as it is bigger and rather more impressive than the rest of the neighbourhood.

Places of interest

Notable people

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, March 28, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.