Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region Permanent
Delegation of Albania to UNESCO Property names are listed in the
language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.
Situated on the shores of Lake Ohrid, the town of Pogradec is a
city with an ancient history and numerous cultural, geological
and natural values. Based on archaeological findings (ceramics)
an Illyrian settlement existed on the hill in north-west of the
city in the 5th century BC and was then fortified in the 4th
century BC. The Pogradec people were first called Illyrians (the
ancient tribe of Desaret and maybe Enklelej), then Arbër, and
finally Albanians. The fortified settlement has had a 1400-year-
existence which ended in 7th-8th century with the Slavic
invasion and then after the Bulgarian occupation in 9th-12th
century the life within the fortification walls was abandoned
and a new city was formed in the field area under the castle
hill. The new city was named "Podga Grada" (Pogradec) meaning
under the city. The city o