Korçë facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Korçë
Municipality
Top to bottom, left to right: View over Korçë and the Resurrection Cathedral, House Çeva, Old Bazaar by night, Traditional architecture around the Old Bazaar and House Lubonja
Flag Emblem
Korçë Location in Albania
Country	Albania
County	Korçë
Settled	15th century AD
Area
• Municipality	806 km2 (311 sq mi)
Elevation	850 m (2,790 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Municipality	75,994
• Municipality density	94.29/km2 (244.20/sq mi)
• Municipal unit	51,152
Demonym(s)	Albanian: Korçar (m), Korçare (f)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal Code	7000
Area Code	(0)82

Korçë (pronounced [ˈkɔɾtʃə]; Albanian definite form: Korça) is the eighth most populated city in Albania. It is the main city of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. In 2011, the city had about 51,152 people, and the wider municipality had 75,994 people. The city covers an area of 806 square kilometers.

Korçë is located on a high flat area, about 850 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by the Morava Mountains. The Old Bazaar area, which includes the Mirahori Mosque, is considered the heart of the city.

The city was founded in the late 1400s or early 1500s by a local Ottoman Albanian nobleman named Ilias Bey Mirahori. However, it really grew and developed in the 1800s. The Old Bazaar has always been very important for trade in Albania. Today, Korçë is the biggest city in eastern Albania and a key place for culture and industry.

What's in a Name?

The name Korçë is known by different names in other languages. For example, in Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Serbian, it's called Goritsa. In Greek, it's Korytsa, and in Italian, it's Coriza.

The name Korçë comes from a Slavic word, "gorica," which means "hill." This word is used in many places in Albania and Slavic countries. It's a smaller version of the word "gora," meaning "mountain."

A Look Back in Time

Early History: 15th Century

The Mirahori Mosque in Korçë. It was built between 1484 and 1495 by Iljaz Bey Mirahor. It is one of Albania's oldest mosques and an important example of Islamic architecture.

The city of Korçë started thanks to Ilias Bey Mirahori. He was a Muslim Albanian who gained a lot of land where Korçë is now. He was an important person in the Ottoman Empire, serving Sultan Bayezid II.

In 1484, Ilias Bey was given seven villages in the Korçë area as a reward. He then started building important structures in the area called Piskopiye, which is where Korçë stands today. He built a mosque, a public kitchen (imaret), a school, and a hammam. The mosque, built between 1484 and 1495, is one of the oldest and most important Islamic buildings in Albania.

Ilias Bey wanted to make this village a local Islamic center and turn it into a town. He encouraged Muslim people to settle there. The new town was also close to the old castle of Mborje, which was important for the Ottomans.

In the 1500s, Korçë was divided into two main parts: Varosh and Kasaba. Muslims lived in Kasaba, which had smaller areas like Çarshi and Qoshk. Christians lived in Varosh, which was also divided into Upper and Lower Varosh.

Growth in the 18th Century

When the nearby town of Moscopole was destroyed in 1789, some of its trade moved to Korçë. This helped Korçë grow. Many people from Moscopole and other areas, especially Aromanians, moved to Korçë. They helped build up the city's market and Christian community.

By 1805, a French diplomat noted that about 1,300 families lived in Korçë, with two-thirds of them being Christian. The city's population grew from 8,200 in 1875 to 18,000 in 1905. Most of the people were Orthodox Christians. While some sources called them "Greek," many were likely Aromanians. The people of Korçë spoke both Albanian and Greek.

Greek schools were important in Korçë, with the first one opening in 1724. Many local people helped fund Greek education. However, in the 1840s, Albanian thinkers from Korçë started to want to keep Albania as a Muslim country within the Ottoman Empire. Later, this changed to a desire for an independent Albanian nation.

Many Orthodox Albanians from Korçë were involved in the Albanian National Awakening, a movement to create an independent Albania. In 1887, with help from important Albanian figures, the first Albanian school was secretly opened in Korçë.

Many people from Korçë also moved abroad for work. Orthodox Christians often went to Romania, Greece, and Bulgaria as skilled workers. Muslims often went to Istanbul for manual labor. In the late 1800s, many Orthodox Albanians from Korçë also moved to the United States to work and save money, hoping to return home.

The Albanian National Awakening

Students in front of the first officially recognized Albanian school in modern Albania, in 1899

The building of the former Albanian school, which is now a museum.

In the early 1700s, people in Korçë went to schools in nearby Moscopole. The first Greek language school in Korçë opened in 1724. It was later destroyed but reopened in 1830. By the 1850s, a Greek school for girls was also open. Wealthy locals helped fund Greek education and culture in the city.

Around 1850, Naum Veqilharxhi created an Albanian alphabet, and some small books were printed in Korçë. By the late 1800s, Albanians in the city wanted to be educated in their own language. The Ottoman authorities only allowed Christian children to be taught in Albanian, but Muslim children also attended the new Albanian schools.

The first Albanian school in Korçë was founded in 1884 and officially opened in 1887. Its first director was Pandeli Sotiri. Naim Frashëri, a famous Albanian poet, helped get official permission for the school. This school lasted until 1902 when it was closed by Ottoman authorities.

In the late 1880s, Gjerasim Qiriazi started a Protestant mission in Korçë. He and his family opened Albanian-speaking schools. His sister, Sevasti Qiriazi, founded the first Albanian girls' school in 1891. Both schools were closed by the Ottoman authorities between 1902 and 1904.

Students and teachers of the Greek Urban School in 1897 (left) and Bangas Gymnasium in the early 1900s (right). These were supported by the community's Lasso fund.

When the city was under French control in 1916, Greek schools were closed, and 200 Albanian schools were opened. In Korçë itself, four primary schools and one secondary school opened and did very well. Later, Greek schools were reopened. In 1917, the Albanian National Lyceum, an important Albanian school, was also opened.

Early 20th Century Conflicts

The Old Bazaar of Korçë was mostly rebuilt in 1879.

The Ottoman Empire ruled Korçë until 1912, when Albania declared its independence. During the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), Korçë was a disputed area. Greek forces captured the city from the Ottomans in December 1912.

Greece claimed Korçë as part of a region called Northern Epirus. This led to a rebellion by some Greek people in the Korçë area, who wanted the Greek army to get involved.

Flag of the Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë from 1916 to 1920 (left). Flag of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus on a postage stamp issued in Korçë in 1914 (right).

In May 1914, the city became part of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus within Albania. However, Greek forces took over the city again in July 1914.

World War I and the Autonomous Republic

Soldiers from Vietnam in Korçë, January 1917, during World War I.

In October 1914, Greece again took control of Korçë. During World War I, the city came under French control from 1916 to 1920.

Local Albanian fighters, led by Themistokli Gërmenji and Sali Butka, fought against Greek forces for Albanian self-rule. They wanted the French to support Albanian independence.

French military cemetery

On December 10, 1916, fourteen Albanian representatives, both Muslims and Christians, declared the Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë. The French agreed to this, and the republic was placed under French military protection. Themistokli Gërmenji became its president.

The French supported Albanian nationalism. Greek schools were closed (though some reopened later), and Albanian education was promoted. This period was very important for the Albanian nationalist movement, showing that Albanians could work together, regardless of religion, to govern themselves. The republic even had its own money, flag, and stamps.

However, this French support for Albanian self-rule ended. Themistokli Gërmenji was later accused of being a spy and executed. It was later found that this was a mistake, possibly due to false information from those who opposed Albanian independence.

After this, Sali Butka gathered a large force of Albanians and surrounded Korçë again. The city was eventually handed back to the Albanians. In 1922, a report by a Finnish professor noted that Korçë's population was "entirely Albanian" and that the number of Greeks was "insignificant." The city officially remained part of Albania.

Mid-20th Century and Beyond

Italian forces occupied Korçë in 1939, along with the rest of Albania. During the Greco-Italian War, the city became an important base for the Italian air force. However, Greek forces captured Korçë in November 1940.

Korçë remained under Greek control until the German invasion of Greece in April 1941. After Italy left the war in 1943, the Germans occupied the town until October 1944.

During the occupation, Korçë became a major center for the Communist-led resistance against the Axis powers. The Albanian Party of Labour (the Communist Party) was officially formed in Korçë in 1941. Albanian rule was restored in 1944.

After World War II, many people from Korçë moved to Boston, United States. After 1990, when communism ended in Albania, Korçë saw many changes. In February 1991, popular protests led to the tearing down of a statue of the former leader, Enver Hoxha.

Since the 2000s, Korçë has been rebuilt and improved. Main streets and alleys have been fixed, old villas renovated, and city parks revitalized. The European Union is helping to renovate the Korçë Old Bazaar, and the city center has been redesigned.

Geography and Climate

Korçë is located in the southern part of Albania. The municipality of Korçë includes several smaller administrative units like Drenovë, Lekas, and Vithkuq.

Weather in Korçë

Korçë has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. The average yearly temperature is about 10.4°C (50.7°F). August is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 21.3°C (70.3°F). January is the coldest, with an average of -0.8°C (30.6°F).

The city gets about 766.7 mm (30.19 inches) of rain each year, with more rain in winter and less in summer. Temperatures are generally cooler than in western Albania because of its higher location. Korçë gets about 2800 hours of sunshine per year.

Economy and Jobs

During the time of Communist rule in Albania, Korçë became an important industrial city. It produced things like knitwear, rugs, textiles, flour, and sugar. The city is also home to the famous Birra Korça brewery.

Korçë has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Albania. Much of the foreign investment in the city comes from Greece, as well as joint Albanian-Greek businesses.

Education and Learning

Korçë is home to Fan Noli University, which was founded in 1971. It offers many different study programs, including agriculture, teaching, business, nursing, and tourism.

After the fall of communism, there was a desire to reopen Greek language schools in Korçë. In 2005, the first bilingual Greek-Albanian school opened. There are also many Greek language tutoring centers in the city. In 2009, an Islamic high school (madrassa) was built in Korçë.

People and Cultures

Korçë is the 7th most populated city in Albania and the largest in Korçë County. In 2011, the city had 51,152 people. Korçë has historically been a center for the Greek minority in southern Albania, and a Greek minority still lives there.

Aromanians in Korçë mostly live in one neighborhood. They speak Aromanian and have cultural groups. They also have cultural and economic ties to Romania and Greece.

Romani people also live in Korçë, especially in the Kulla e Hirit neighborhood. Many of them came from Turkey in the early 1900s.

The Resurrection Cathedral of Korçë is the city's main church (left). The Mirahori Mosque was built in 1494 (right).

For centuries, Korçë has been an important religious center for both Orthodox Christians and Muslims. It has large Orthodox, Sunni Muslim, and Bektashi communities. The main Bektashi center is the Turan Takya. Today, there are also smaller numbers of Catholics and Protestants.

The Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George, an important church, was destroyed by the Communist government during a time when religion was banned. The St. Sotir Church serves the Aromanian community and was rebuilt after being destroyed in 1959.

Islam came to the city in the 1400s. One of Albania's oldest mosques, the Iliaz Mirahori Mosque, was built in 1484. The Romani people in Korçë are mostly Muslim, but there are also Orthodox Christian Roma.

Culture and Arts

A shaggy carpet with hook designs from Korçë, 1970

Korçë is known as the cultural heart of southern Albania. The city and its surrounding area have unique traditions and a rich variety of music.

The city is famous for its low houses and cobblestone streets. It hosts Albania's largest carnival before Orthodox Easter, a tradition that started over 40 years ago. Musically, Korçë is known for its local songs called serenata. The city also holds an annual summer Lakror Festival, celebrating Lakror, a regional Albanian pie.

Korçë is the birthplace of Albania's first professional female painters, Androniqi Zengo Antoniu and Sofia Zengo Papadhimitri. Their father, Vangjel Zengo, was a well-known icon painter.

Historically, Korçë is also known for its handmade rugs with special designs and symbols.

Museums and Theaters

Bifora with a relief of the aerial flight of Alexander the Great, National Museum of Medieval Art

Korçë is often called the "city of museums." It has two major museums: the National Museum of Medieval Art and the National Museum of Archeology. The National Museum of Medieval Art has a large collection of about 7,000 icons and 500 other items made of textile, stone, and metal.

The building of the first Albanian School and the home and gallery of painter Vangjush Mio also serve as museums. The Bratko Museum and the Oriental Museum are also in the city.

Korçë has a city theater, the Andon Zako Çajupi Theatre, which has been putting on shows since 1950.

Sports in Korçë

Football is one of Korçë's most popular sports. The city's most famous football club is Skënderbeu Korçë. It was formed in 1909. The team has won the Albanian championship many times, including in 1933 and several times from 2011 to 2016.

In 2015, Skënderbeu Korçë became the first Albanian team to reach the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League. Although they lost, they then became the first Albanian club to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, a major European competition.

See also

In Spanish: Korçë para niños