Guri i Bardhë

The high number of fortified houses in the village of Guri i Bardhë indicates that this place was of much greater importance in the past than it is today. At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, it is said to have been one of the largest settlements in the Albanian lands. Any development of this beautiful village in the Mat region is hampered by a poor access road.

The settlement is situated above the Mat River. Due to its scenic location and rich history, it was incorporated into the government’s “100 villages” programme, which aims to encourage rural tourism in Albania. As in other Albanian rural areas, the village suffers from massive emigration. After the fall of communism, the vast majority of the inhabitants left, with less than a hundred of the original 1,200 remaining.

There are at least two guest houses in the village, making it an ideal place for overnight stay. From the village, you can do a hike to the northern part of the Mountain with Holes.

A few kilometers from Guri e Bardhë there is the Petralba Fortress (Kalaja e Petralbës) which was one of the main strongholds of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg in the 15th century. Today, only ruins remain of it, but it’s worth visiting just because of the magnificent views of Mat Valley.

The picturesque Girl’s Bridge (Ura e Vashës) is located in the valley of Mat River just beneath Guri i Bardhë. With the completion of Rruga e Arbërit road, it is just a few hundred meters off the highway (see map). Cars are usually parked by the road, but many locals drive down the switchbacks to the bridge. From the old bridge built in the Ottoman period, the elegant new bridge on Rruga e Arbërit can also be seen.

A gravel road connects Guri i Bardhë with the new Rruga e Arbërit road (5 km). Normal cars can navigate it with some difficulty, off-road vehicles can continue from Guri i Bardhë to Shëngjerg while passing the Mountain with Holes.

Cover photo by Přemysl Vinš

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