Travel Guide Junik

Called Junik in Albanian and Serbo-Croatian (pronounced "you-nik"), the town has about 6,000 inhabitants, 99% of whom are Albanian. It is the capital of the municipality of the same name. Junik is 10 km south of Deçani/Dečani, 18 km northwest of Gjakova/Đakovica, 23 km northeast of Tropoja (Albania), 26 km south of Peja/Peć(via Deçani/Dečani).Dominated by the country's second-highest peak, Mount Gjakova, south of the Albanian Alps National Park, this verdant town on the Metochia plain (500 m above sea level) consists of hamlets clustered around an old mosque with asymmetrical minarets. Famous for its kulas and its poet Din Mehmeti (1912-2010), Junik is recovering year after year from the aftermath of the last war. Thanks to international assistance, the 19th century fortified houses have recently been rebuilt. Junik now also has a mini tourist office as well as a few guesthouses and restaurants. But in the summer of 1998, it was the scene of the "Battle of Junik". This confrontation resulted in an important victory of the Yugoslav army against the KLA, the latter then retreating to Albania. If the fighting caused few casualties, the village was destroyed by the Serbian nationalists in the months that followed. For Junik was not only a stronghold of the KLA, but also a symbol of Albanian identity: in the fifteenth century, it was a stronghold of Lekë Dukagjini, the last Albanian lord to fight the Ottomans and author of the first Kanun.