Berat
40.70666666666719.95222222222260Koordinaten: 40 ° 42 'N, 19 ° 57 ' E
Berat ( Albanian: Berati ) is one of the oldest cities of Albania. Located on the River Osum city had in 2004 claims to be 64 473 inhabitants, according to 2011 census, however, only 36 467 inhabitants. The " city of a thousand windows " which was founded in 1961 officially named the " Museum City ", is under special protection. Thanks to this protection, the white, historic homes were spared from new buildings. Berat with its three compact Altstadt- quarters Mangalem, Gorica and Kalaja ( German: Burg ) and the many mosques and churches, one of the main attractions of the country.
Etymology
The first written mention of the city, Greek Poulcheriopólis Πουλχεριοπόλις, dates from the 9th century, meaning " beautiful city ". In the year 1019 the Slavic name covering radon emerges, what is the translation of the earlier name and "white city " means. 1230 and 1258 Belgrade was used. Other names are Bellagradi (1280 ) and Belgradi (1431).
Location and neighborhoods
Berat covers an area of only 6.3 km2. The city was initially built as a fortress on the rocky hill of 187 müa where the river Osum pushes forward by a bottleneck in the valley in the middle Albanian level Myzeqe. About this strategic location is dominated by the castle, which consists not only of the fixed assets, but an entire district with numerous churches and mosques includes. On the opposite bank lies the historical district of Gorica. Below the castle, expand the district Mangalem and today's city center. Before the city originated at the communist era new districts with numerous prefabricated buildings. To the east of the city lies the massif Tomorr ( 2416 m).
History
Prehistoric dwellings could be detected since about 2600 BC. The Castle Hill was first fixed in the 4th century BC by Illyrians. The town was the center of the settlement of the Illyrian Dassareten. This came late 4th century in the dependence of the Kingdom of Macedon. It was probably Cassander, who settled the old place as the city re -founded and Greek colonists. In honor of his father, he named the city Antipatreia. Even under Roman rule the city flourished.
The present name Berat goes to the Slavic name Beligrad back (the white city). During the 9th and 11th century, the Bulgarians had occupied the region. Already at this time Berat was Orthodox bishop 's seat. The eparchy was under the Metropolitan Archbishopric of Ohrid.
In 1018, the Byzantines recaptured the city. As a result, Berat fell under changing rule of local despots, kings of Naples, the Bulgarians and the Serbs. In the spring of 1281 struck the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII, who ruled over the city since 1274, the army of Charles I of Naples before Berat crucial and stopped the further expansion of Anjou east of the Adriatic.
1417, the city took the Ottomans a first time. In the 1420s the noble family Muzaka exercising dominion over Berat. Theodore of Muzaka, a fellow Skanderbegs in the League of Lezha, the city lost in 1450 by a surprise attack by the Turks finally. The strained by Skanderbeg 1455 Siege of Berat was unsuccessful.
Under the Ottoman rule, Berat was the seat of a Sanjak - Bey and regional trade center. Both the Muslims and the Orthodox Church were talking major schools in the city.
In November 1670, the Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi visited, among others, the city of Berat. It was the seat of the Sanjak Bey from Vlora and 489 possessed fiefs ( Turkish Timar ). In addition to 5000 covered with red bricks stone houses he scored 100 splendid mansions with cisterns and wells. Berat was divided into 30 districts, and Çelebi describes in some detail the fortress and citadel of the city.
1809 could Tepedelenli Ali Pasha the city for a short time annex his territory. As a local governor, he used his son Myftar. 1822 conquered the Ottoman Sultan Berat back again after Ali Pasha had fallen victim to an assassination attempt.
1851 Berat was rocked by a strong earthquake. The buildings erected shortly thereafter characterize the appearance of the historic parts of the city today. In 1903 there was an uprising in the town the population. The residents called for a reduction of high taxes and the occupation of the city offices with Albanians rather than the Ottomans. In October 1944, a "democratic government" with Enver Hoxha was formed as Prime Minister after the guerrillas had driven the German troops from the region in Berat.
Attractions
The town of Berat is characterized by the typical Balkan architecture, as found, for example, comparable in Gjirokastra and Ohrid. Unlike some other Albanian cities, tourist attractions and the city center are in Berat maintained and entertained.
In 2008, the old town of Berat was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. There she is now run jointly with Gjirokastra as examples for obtaining Ottoman city and the coexistence of different cultures.
According to a report by the International Council on Monuments and Sites in April 2013, the World Heritage Site of Berat is together with that of Gjirokastra in danger. The biggest problem are the many illegal buildings near the historic city centers, especially in Gjirokastra. Another shortcoming is the staff, which exerts an insufficient monitoring of the development site. In addition, some important changes in legislation must be made. If the local authorities do not resolve the problems by the end of 2014, both come to the Red List of World Heritage in Danger.
Mangalem
This district runs up the hill to the castle. The houses are very close, the facades of the valley all have large windows. Therefore, the district owes the city its name "City of thousand windows ". In formerly inhabited only by Muslims Quarter are the bachelors Mosque, the Lead Mosque and the Royal Mosque and the Helveti - Tekke and the Ethnographic Museum, which allows an insight into the lifestyle of the Turkish period. Almost at the steepest point of the castle hill glued the small Michaelis Church on the river.
Gorica
Length of this district was only connected by a stone bridge with the rest of the city, which is why little has changed here. Is particularly worth the St. Spyridon Monastery (also Orthodox Cathedral, 1864). The Ottoman stone bridge Ura e Goricës replaced a wooden bridge. It was built in 1780 by Ahmet Kurt Pasha and later renovated in 1922 by the city administration.
Kalaja
The castle of Berat, Kalaja called, is one of the special attractions of the old city. The Royal Palace is still inhabited today from numerous small houses. Still, several churches to visit are in the winding streets. Likewise, there are the ruins of the Red Mosque, the White Mosque and Ottoman barracks on Castle Hill. Worth seeing is the Roman cistern, which was to the 19th century in use. Famous is the Onufri museum displaying works of the same name and most important Albanian icon painter.
Economy
After the collapse of communism, most of the factories were shut down in Berat. The city can therefore offer few economic prospects. Even as a regional service and trade center, the place in competition with many other similar sized cities in central Albania.
In the tourism sector and the hospitality industry some residents earn a living. For tourists Berat offers several hotels and restaurants. To promote tourism, some approaches have been made, including with German help. Berat was one of the first Albanian places that created a website for tourists and where clearly visible signposts were erected.
Sports
The Tomori Stadium is the third largest stadium in Albania. The local football club FK Tomori Berat plays in the 2013/14 season in the second division.
Personalities
- Angelina Srpska (c. 1440), saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church
- Onufri and his son Nikolla (16th century), worked several years in the city as an artist
- Dhimitër Tutulani (1875-1937), politician
- Sejfulla " Cekja " Myftari ( born 1942 ), comedian and actor
- Alkane Nallbani ( b. 1971 ), artist