Travel Guide Shishtavec

Shishtavec/Shishtaveci (pronounced "chichtavets/chichtavetsi) or Šištavec/Шиштевац in Serbian and Našinski, has around 1,800 inhabitants and is part of the municipality of Kukës. The village lies 12 km northwest of Restelica (Kosovo) and 29 km southeast of Kukës (SH 26 and local road). One minibus a day goes to Kukës.Located at the foot of the Šar Mountains and along the Kosovo border, Shishtavec is the main village of Albania's Goran minority. Close to the Serbs, this Islamized Slavic people is mainly present in the neighboring Dragaš region, at the southern tip of Kosovo, with an estimated population of 10,000. Their name, meaning "mountain people", is derived from the Slavic term Гора/Gora ("mountain"). Гора/Gora ("mountain"). In Albania, they number just over 2,000, spread mainly between Shishtavec and Borja, 12 km to the north. Renowned for their traditional costumes, sheepdogs and cheeses, the Gorans have been divided by history and borders. In Albania today, they constitute an isolated community that has never been recognized as an official minority. Situated on a high plateau at an altitude of 1,300 m and difficult to access, Shishtavec was a ski resort during the Communist era. Speaking Našinski (close to Serbian) and Albanian, the villagers are proud of their customs and organize two festivals (folklore in May, potato in October). Accommodation is available in local guesthouses and a hotel near the site of the "morning stone".