Kosovo sights – nature, culture and architecture

Kosovo is a true pearl between the Orient and the Occident. And this is what more and more people who are interested in scenic and cultural-historical treasures are discovering. Kosovo is tiny, the area is only half the size of Hesse. However, in this small area is enormous, which makes a vacation an experience. Tourists can discover a lot. This article gives tips on the most beautiful sights and the natural regions worth seeing in Kosovo.

Natural beauties worth seeing in Kosovo

The country, which has only a little more than 10.800 km², has a number of natural beauties worth seeing. First of all there is the cave in the marble quarries. It is a stalactite cave that stretches almost a kilometer and a half through the mountain. It is characterized by stalactites and stalagmites made of marble crystals.

The northern Albanian Alps offer an unmistakable panorama, with Mount Deravica as the crowning highlight. It is the highest point in Kosovo and the mighty mountain ranges lie at its feet. If you are ever in this small, beautiful country, you should visit the Batllava and Radoniqit reservoirs. Both reservoirs offer inviting opportunities for swimming and fishing. Boating is also a popular recreational activity on the reservoirs.

If you can't get enough of water, take a hike to the White Drin spring. This river rises near the town of Peja. It winds eastward for the first 25 km before flowing southward to Klina. Particularly worth seeing is the white Drin not far from the Fierza dam, which already extends into Albania, but is located in the valley of the white Drin in Kosovo. The river flows through narrow gorges and offers spectacular scenery for hiking, horseback riding and boat tours.

Also in the vicinity of Peja are the waterfalls of Mirusha. The river overcomes a total of eleven steps and falls inexorably through a narrow gorge towards the ground. Visitors can get very close to the waterfalls and see the natural spectacle from close up.

Sacral architecture for lovers of church, monasteries and mosques

Kosovo is characterized by mosques, churches and monasteries. To list them all would go beyond the scope of this article. The following is a selection of various mosques, churches and monasteries in Kosovo.

• Archangel Monastery
  The Archangel Monastery was built in the 14. The church was built in the sixteenth century and was intended to serve as a burial church for Tsar Dusan. Destroyed by the Turks in about 1455. They took the stones and used them to build their own mosque in Prizren (Sinan Pasha Mosque). But the Archangel Monastery was rebuilt and is still inhabited by some monks today.
• Sinan Pasha Mosque
  The Sinan Pasha Mosque is located in Prizren. It dominates the cityscape since the year 1615. The building is square and is crowned by a dome, which has a diameter of 14.5 m. On top there is a minaret that rises so gracefully and gracefully that it visibly sways in a strong wind.
• Former Patriarchate of Pec
  In the patriarchate, several churches unite into a single unit in a monastery complex. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can find the Church of the Apostle, built in 1253, the Church of Demetrius from 1324, the Church of Our Lady from 1330 and the Chapel of St. Nicholas. The buildings have a common porch and it is impressive to walk through the portal towards the sacred buildings.

Worth seeing cities in Kosovo: Priština and Prizren

Of course, Kosovo has many appealing places that tourists shouldn't miss out on. Priština and Prizren are among the highlights of the country. Priština is the center, the capital of Kosovo. It is characterized by mosques, fountains and Ottoman monuments. In Priština, tourists should visit the Sultan Mehmet II al Fatih Mosque, the Jasar Pasha Mosque and the "Great Hammam" bathhouse. To recharge their batteries, vacationers like to go to Park Germia.

Prizren is located near the Albanian border. A day trip gives interested tourists access to the Church of Our Lady of Ljeviska, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, the city impresses with old streets, many small and large bridges, cozy pubs, lively shopping miles and quiet side streets.

Conclusion: Anyone vacationing in Kosovo should plan at least two weeks to get to know the highlights of this small, attractive country. The mentality of the people is open, the prices moderate and the cuisine recommendable. Albanian cuisine is based on many different types of vegetables combined with cereals, as well as lamb, goat, poultry and beef. Very common is also mezze, a kind of tapas. Those who order mezze receive a colorful selection of typical national specialties on a plate, which taste excellent not only as an appetizer.