Surrounded by the Korab and Lurë mountain ranges, Dibër is one of Albania’s most beautiful mountainous regions. With one national park, dozens of glacial lakes, deep gorges and well-known thermal baths, Dibër has all the makings of a thriving tourism sector.
5 things not to be missed in Dibër
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Its location on Albania’s northeast periphery has meant that the region has long suffered from a lack of investment, unemployment, emigration and insufficient infrastructure. The situation is changing for the better with the opening of the Rruga e Arbërit road, which connects Tirana with North Macedonia and runs through the entire Dibër. The region benefits a lot from it: the journey from Peshkopi, the region’s administrative centre, to Tirana, has halved to around two hours.
History of Dibër
In the Middle Ages, Dibër was part of the Kastrioti family, headed by Gjon Kastrioti, father of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. During Skanderbeg’s tenacious resistance against the Turks in the 15th century, it was a border region between the Alliance led by him and the Ottoman Empire. The Turks eventually conquered Dibër in the early 16th century and rapidly Islamized the population.
After the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the interstate border between the newly formed Albania and then Serbia (which annexed the territory of present-day North Macedonia) cut the region of Dibër in half. The Albanian part lost its natural centre, the town of Debar (Dibra e Madhe in Albanian), and Peshkopi grew in importance and has since become the largest Albanian town in the area.
Transport to Dibër
Once the Rruga e Arbërit road is open, it’s just about 100 kilometres from Peshkopi to Tirana while the journey takes about two hours. The route via Milot, Burrel and Bulqizë was 70 kilometres longer and took four hours. Buses to Dibër run from the northern terminal in Tirana at roughly two-hour intervals. There is a direct bus connection to Peshkopi also from Durrës and Elbasan.
The new road towards Kukës now heads slightly east of the original route in the valley of the Black Drin. It meanders through beautiful mountainous terrain, and although it has a good surface, expect at least 1,5 hours of driving. A bus runs here daily: at 7:00 from Kukës and at 12:00 from Peshkopi.
Transport from Peshkopi to Debar in North Macedonia is provided by minibuses, with a possible change in the town of Maqellarë.
The road between Librazd and Dibër through the Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park is in bad shape and is thus suitable for high-clearance vehicles only.
The old macadam road that runs through the valley of Black Drin to Kukës (through villages of Arras, Zall-Dardhë and Skavicë) is one of the most beautiful in Albania.
The Arras-Lura-Perlat asphalt road, which will link Dibër and the Mirditë region, is anticipated to be operational soon. It will then open up access to the Lurë-Mali i Dejës National Park from Dibër.
Useful Links
Accommodation
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