Vushtrri’s Fortress is being restored

The town of Vushtrri now has revitalized and conserved the archaeological and architectonic locality that is situated at the centre of the city, the Fortress of Vushtrri. In an inauguration ceremony for the finalisation of restorations attended Secretary General of Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Veton Firzi, USA Ambassador in Prishtina, Tracey Jacobson, Mayor of Vushtrri, Bajram Mulaku and Director of CHwB, Sali Shoshi.

Initially the investments were accomplished by MCYS in an amount of 110 thousand Euros and afterwards, by USA Embassy in Kosovo, in an amount of 350 thousand Euros. Restoration project is implemented by Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB), for a period of two years.

Secretary General, Mr. Firzi, in this occasion estimated that the Fortress of Vushtrri is always considered a priority by MCYS where he also thanked partners for their assistance in the scope of preserving and promoting the cultural heritage.

“The Fortress of Vushtrri is among the monuments of specific values and therefore it still continues to remain high in the list of priorities in our ministry. We are looking into the possibility to utilising it as an attraction centre which would enable its maintenance, too, on regular basis” he said.

Moreover, he thanked partners for their support, USA Embassy in Kosovo, for investing in the Fortress of Vushtrri and of Prizren as well as the European Commission for the support via IPA fund that will be invested in the Fortress of Novoberda/Artana.

Whereas, USA Ambassador, Ms Jacobson, expressed that this is a wonderful restoration project in the scope of cultural heritage in Kosovo. “I was there maybe one and a half year ago, and now the view is completely different”, said Ms Jacobson emphasising that now an area has been created which can be used by public again, mentioning also investments in the public bath of this city.

Whereas, Mayor of Vushtrri, Bajram Mulaku appraised the investment and restoration project of the Fortress of Vushtrri, stating that “with the restoration but also functionalization of this object but also of the public bath, Vushtrri is taking a new approach in the cultural development and tourism, as well”, said Mr Mulaku.

In his turn, Sali Shoshi, said that CHwB followed the conservation principle of the parts that have remained from the Fortress, then, created a public area as well as increased the functionality that is necessary to the public, in which case the adaptation of the fortress was accomplished in order to be used for gallery exhibition.

Fortress was built in the 7th century, during the Byzantine period, it is considered among the specific values of our cultural heritage which lived out the different periods. This object is on the list of priorities of MCYS and under protection.