“Maiden’s Mountain” is a symbol of intense love,

The mountain is a peak located in the northeast of Elbasan city and is shrouded in a legend that has become blurred with the passage of time. It is said that the mountain is a symbol of passionate love, and the story behind this name has been kept hidden by the villagers of Polis.

According to an old man in the village, the legend goes as follows:

Two young people fell in love with each other, but their love was forbidden as the boy was poor, and the girl was the daughter of a wealthy man. The only way for them to be together was through suicide. However, an elder in the village decided to help the young couple, but his decision burdened the boy, as men subject to women’s whims were highly punished at that time. The elder set a condition that the boy had to carry his girlfriend in his arms from the foot of the mountain to the top without stopping. The young man agreed to the condition, and the elders of the village gathered to witness the implementation of the condition. If the boy succeeded, he would be allowed to marry the girl.

The boy started climbing, and in the first few meters, he appeared to be flying, but his ascent did not last long. The elders watched anxiously as the boy struggled to make his way up, encouraging him to keep going. Eventually, he made it to the top, but the great strain had caused his heart to stop beating. In honor of her lover’s supreme sacrifice, the girl decided to follow in his footsteps and jumped off the steep mountain peak, falling about 700 meters into the precipice.

This story of unconditioned love and ultimate sacrifice has been passed down from generation to generation and will forever be remembered as a symbol of true love. The legend of “Maiden’s Mountain” will continue to captivate the imaginations of those who hear it for generations to come.

The castle of Rozafa, located above the Buna river and the city of Shkodra, has a long and tumultuous history. Its origins are shrouded in mystery, dating back to the ancient Illyrian tribes who once inhabited the area. Over the centuries, the castle has been owned and occupied by various foreign powers, including the Romans, Slavs, Normans, Venetians, and Turks, all leaving their mark on the castle and the surrounding landscape.

Legend has it that the castle’s construction was plagued by mysterious structural problems, with the walls continually collapsing despite the hard work of three brothers. A wise old man appeared and offered a solution, which involved burying the first wife who brought lunch to her husband in the walls of the castle. However, the two elder brothers broke their promise and revealed the plan to their wives, who found excuses not to bring lunch. Only the youngest brother’s wife, named Rozafa, was unaware of the plan and agreed to bring lunch, only to learn of her sacrifice upon arrival. She agreed to be buried in the walls of the castle but requested that three holes be left so that she could continue to breastfeed her newborn son, caress him, and move his cradle. The castle never collapsed again, and the legend of Rozafa lives on to this day.

It is precisely the strange beauty and interesting shape of this valley that made it possible to create legends about it. Many of these legends have been preserved to this day. 

The legend of the “Hole of the Bride.”

The legend recounts the story of a bride who was being forced to marry against her will, adhering to old customs. During the journey back to the groom’s village after the wedding, the unhappy bride confided her feelings, but nobody paid heed to her distress.

Determined to escape, she turned to the rock in the canyon and prayed for its help. Addressing the rock, she pleaded: “Open up and save me from this embarrassment.” Miraculously, the rock responded and revealed a crevice. The bride leapt off her horse and took refuge in the opening, never returning to her former life.

The crevice soon became a site of pilgrimage for childless brides seeking divine assistance.

The legend of Saint Abaz Ali

The legend is about the unique formations that have been created by the erosion of limestone in the water. These formations resemble the shape of a horse’s and bat’s footprints and are located close to the village of Dores, just 5 km away from Çorovoda town.

According to the legend, these footprints belong to Saint Abaz Ali, who traveled from Karbala to Tomor on his white horse.

As he flew, his horse left imprints on the Kajca plank before he disappeared into Mount Tomor. Today, followers of the Bektashi order visit these footprints seeking spiritual guidance from Saint Abaz Ali.

The Osumi Canyon is a hidden gem of Albanian nature, located near the town of Çorovoda and visible after crossing the town. Though not well-known, this canyon offers breathtaking views and untouched landscapes, waiting to be explored by visitors from around the world.

Long ago in Berat, a picturesque town in Albania, the residents were content with their lives until they decided to boost tourism by creating a town of 1000 windows. The plan was for each person to construct 5 windows on their home, but Gezim, a vain man, went against the agreement and built 6 windows instead. 

Outraged by Gezim’s defiance, the other villagers punished him by throwing him into the Osumi River, and they swore to never speak of the 1001st window again.

However, news of the town of 1000 windows spread rapidly, attracting visitors from across the country and boosting Berat’s economy. 

Years later, Gezim’s son sought revenge by revealing to the villagers and other municipalities that Berat actually had 1001 windows. The townspeople were furious and attempted to punish Gezim’s son, but he and his family tragically took their own lives.

Despite the tragedy, the revelation of the 1001st window only increased interest in Berat, drawing even more tourists to the town’s unique architecture, delicious food, and stunning location by the Tomorr Mountain and Osumi River.

Today, people from all over the world continue to visit Berat to uncover the mystery of the 1001 windows and to experience the town’s charm and beauty.

Join us on a journey to Berat, where you can discover the hidden gem of Albania and learn more about its fascinating history.

Once upon a time, in northern Albania, a mother and her two children were forced to flee their home due to the invasion of Ottoman soldiers.
The mother was devastated by the loss of her husband, who was killed by the soldiers. As they ran through the mountains, they were plagued by thirst and exhaustion. Despite their desperate search for water, they were unable to find any, and the children grew weaker by the minute.

As the mother tried to console her children, she grew increasingly desperate and eventually cursed the mountains for their lack of water. Legend has it that her curse burned the Accursed Mountains, causing fires to break out every year in the same season as the mother’s journey.

However, there is a ritual associated with a rock in the mountains that is said to represent the mother and her children, and passing shepherds pour water on it to honor their memory.