The Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organisation (GCDO) was founded in 2001 to help conserve and develop the spectacular Ottoman fortress town of Gjirokastra. High on the hillside, and dominated by its 13th-century citadel, the old town’s steep cobbled streets and unique Ottoman fortified tower houses frame stunning views. With their richly decorated interiors consisting of frescoed walls and elaborate woodwork, the tower houses are a remarkable reminder of the town’s illustrious past.

Declared a Museum Town by the Albanian state in 1961, this outstanding historic settlement is threatened by lack of funds and inappropriate new construction. The GCDO has adopted two main approaches to combat these issues: as well as implementing strategies to protect and repair the fabric of the buildings and monuments, it works to promote the town and wider region as a tourist destination. A landmark achievement occurred in 2005 when, after intensive lobbying by the GCDO, Gjirokastra was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Restoration and training projects

Over the past six years the GCDO has initiated and supported numerous restoration projects in collaboration with local and international agencies. The most important of these was the complete restoration of the Zekate House, a superb example of a fortified tower house. Taking two years to complete, the project was accomplished in partnership with the Institute of Monuments and involved repairing exterior walls, entirely re-roofing the house, as well as renovating and restoring the beautiful painted interiors. Now the material fabric of the building is secure, the Zekate House will be converted into a traditional bed and breakfast facility to provide sustainable income for its owners. This type of sympathetic regeneration forms the model for the future development of the old town.

Restoration work of this kind further helps to identify skilled craftspeople while highlighting the need for greater numbers of local individuals with conservation skills. The training of new specialists in the field of standing building conservation, heritage management, tourism promotion and services is paramount to the GCDO’s programmes. In the last two years the GCDO has assisted and supported over 50 individuals to learn essential new skills in these fields.

Redevelopment and visitor facility projects

The GCDO has consistently focused upon involving the town’s community in its activities and throughout it has undertaken projects that directly improve the quality of life in Gjirokastra. In 2003 the GCDO initiated a project to redevelop the area of the old town known as the Seven Fountains. Fronted by an Ottoman mosque and with a striking fountain at its centre, this area had been neglected over many years. The GCDO facilitated its redevelopment into an attractive park that provides a hub for citizens in the centre of the old town. A project with a similar impact took place in 2006 when the GCDO co-funded a refurbishment of the old Bazaar. Across an area of six streets, facades were repainted, stonework was pressure-washed and electricity cables were tidied and concealed. Community projects such as these engender a sense of civic pride in the town, and are essential if Gjirokastra is to develop its potential as a tourist destination.

The future of Gjirokastra lies in tourism and the GCDO is working to assist and develop local initiatives that will encourage visitors. During 2006-7 the GCDO oversaw the creation of a tourist information centre, the development of tourist trails around the town and the publication of a guidebook. In partnership with the Albanian Artisan Confederation the GCDO is working to develop the production of traditional Albanian crafts aimed at the tourist market, and has recently opened a craft shop in the town. The GCDO also provides help and advice on the sympathetic use of historic buildings for tourist services and activities.

Above all, the GCDO serves as a co-ordinator: it works to unite local, national and international agencies with an interest in Gjirokastra towards a common goal. Only through small scale entrepreneurial activity partnered with the restoration and conservation of the old town will a sustainable future for Gjirokastra as a historic centre be secured. for more...>>