Përmet

Përmet is a municipality and city in the Gjirokastër County of southern Albania, known for its scenic location along the Vjosa River, nestled between the Trebeshinë and Dhëmbel mountains and near the Këlcyrë Gorge. The administrative units within the municipality include Çarçovë, Frashër, Petran, Qendër Piskovë, and Përmet, and as of the 2011 census, the total population is 10,614, covering an area of 602.47 km².

The city’s history is rich and dates back to the 14th-century Ottoman period when it was a kaza within the sanjaks of Gjirokastër and Ioannina. Përmet resisted Islamic conversion efforts in the 18th century, maintaining its Christian Albanian-speaking identity, particularly evident in the village of Hormovë. Education played a significant role, with the establishment of a Greek school in 1778, followed by a Greek girls’ school and the first Albanian-language school in the late 19th century.

Përmet was actively involved in the Albanian Revolt of 1912, temporarily came under Greek control during the First Balkan War, and was included in the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus in 1914. It saw more conflict during the Greco-Italian War but later became a pivotal location for the National Liberation Movement in 1944. Recently, in August 2013, the city witnessed demonstrations regarding the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin, highlighting ongoing cultural and religious sensitivities in the region. Përmet continues to cherish its cultural heritage, Orthodox traditions, and natural wonders, making it a noteworthy destination in Albania.