
Prizren citizens are proud of the ethnically diverse cultural history of their city.
Prizren is known to a majority of Kosovars as the most beautiful city in Kosovo.
The Albanian League of Prizren museum is one of the main stops for visitors who are interested in history.
“I bring all my guests to visit the Prizren museum. It is enriching for me to continuously promote the cultural values of
Prizren to others,” said Edi Duranbar, an employee for a local bank.
“Living in a city with so many historical sites makes me proud,” says Jeton Jagxhiu, a graphic designer in Prizren. The
Prizren museum is one of these values which reflect the continuation of our tradition.”
The Prizren Museum has become a first stop for many Kosovars and internationals currently living and working in Kosovo. The museum has three sections: One is devoted to history. Another to ethnology and the third is gallery of art. Museum Manager Parim Kosova says they had 16.000 visitors last year.
“The Vetevendosja Movement (Self-Governance) was not the first to come up with the idea of Kosovo being self-governing state,” says Kosova. “In July 1878, Albanian leaders gathered in Prizren and formed the Prizren League, an organization that would promote the idea of ethnic Albanians having their own territory.”
At the time, the General Assembly of the Albanian League of Prizren was demanding recognition of an Albanian nation as an entity.
Prizren citizens are proud of the ethnically diverse cultural history of their city, but the current situation worries Jagxhiu. “Prizren is a cosmopolitan city, but what fears me is that culture and history are used for political gains by Albanian nationalists.”
Another concern is inadequate funding and planning to maintain historic Kosovo sites like the Prizren museum. During the
1999 war, the Prizren museum was burned down by Serbian troops.
Kosova said damage caused to the museum was estimated at 270, 000 Euros.
Most of the museum’s historic artifacts, things such as manuscripts, antique furniture, sculptures and pottery were also destroyed and confiscated. Luckily, many of the artifacts were later recovered.

Kosova hopes that the Prizren Museum to be treated as an independent body and not be under the
Ministry of Culture. Kosova believes this will ultimately provide the museum with the opportunity to raise fund for itself.