Rahovec (also known as Orahovac in Serbian) is a town and municipality located in the southwestern part of Kosovo, in the District of Gjakova. It’s known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse population, and especially for being a prominent wine-producing region.
Understand
[edit]Rahovec has a mixed population and historical context, signs may appear in both Albanian and Serbian.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Roads are generally in good condition, though rural routes may have potholes.
By bus
[edit]Rahovec is well-connected by bus to major Kosovar cities. From Pristina, buses run hourly via the R 110 , taking about 1.5 hours €4. Departures are from Pristina’s main bus station. From Prizren, via R 204 Frequent buses take 30–40 minutes (€2), with departures every 30 minutes. From Gjakova, less frequent buses (2 daily) take 1.5–2 hours (€2). Buses arrive at Rahovec central bus station, a short walk from the city center. Tickets are purchased on board or at the station. Check schedules at the station, as online information may be unreliable.
By plane
[edit]The nearest airport is Pristina International Airport (PRN), about 60 km northeast (50 minutes by car). From the airport, you can hire a taxi (around €40–45) or rent a car to reach Rahovec/Orahovac. There are no direct public transport options from the airport to Rahovec, so you’ll need to transfer in Pristina.
By train
[edit]Kosovo’s rail network is limited, and there is no train station in Rahovec. The nearest station is in Fushë Kosovë (near Pristina), requiring a bus or taxi transfer.
Get around
[edit]
The town is walkable though built on hillsides. Hitchhiking or biking to destinations nearby is possible and agricultural tractors are common place in the region. Also White Drin Canyon & Fshajt Bridge: Located near the village of Xërxë, The only canyon in Kosovo. This natural monument features a 900-meter-long canyon with a depth of 45 meters. The historic Ottoman-era Fshajt Bridge is a popular spot for diving competitions and offers picturesque views.
See
[edit]
The town is home to a large Tarikat Muslim Community with dervish lodges or tekkes found across the town. The nearby Christina Orthodox sites in Hoça e Madhe (Velika Hoča) 8 km away and Zoqishtë (Zociste) include monasteries and churches and are well worth the visit. The Serb populated region is home to the winery of the Decani Monastery. Make sure to ask for raki and wine.
- 1 Sahat Kulla (Clock Tower), Kongresi i Manastirit (Near Tekke Shejh Ilijaz Shehu). M-F 08:00-16:00. A significant historical and cultural landmark in southwestern Kosovo. Constructed in 1791 by Mahmud Pasha, the tower is 25 m tall, the tallest and oldest monument in the city. Free.
- 2 Great Tekke of Baba Shejh Sylejmani, Sheh Myhedini (old center of the town). 24/7.
- 3 Tekke of Shejh Hilmi Maliqi (Tekke of Mulla Mala), Rruga Hilmi Maliqi. Built in the end of 19th century. Free.
- 4 Velika Hoca Village and Monastery (Hoça e Madhe) (head in the direction of Suhareka). Protected village and Serb Orthodox Church offering several cultural monuments and local wines.
- 5 Zociste Monastery (Manstiri i Zoçishtes) (in the direction of Suhareka, past Hoça e Madhe). Serb Orthodox Church Monastery offering local wine.
- 6 Maja e Shkodranit (Shkodran Peak), Shkodrani (4 km northeast in way to Pristina). A site of historical significance, named in honor of Arian Brahimi, a volunteer who fell during the 1999 conflict. The area is accessible by bike, with dedicated cycling paths leading to the memorial complex. Free.
- 7 Zatriq Fortress. Zatriq consists of the upper town at the very top, around which down town was spread, with a shape that resembles a sharp tooth or beak, with southern and eastern sides protected by isolated and sharp rocks that, in some places, reach up to 50 m. On its north side, there is a natural plateau, on which research discovered ceramics and brick remains were discovered, contours of four-squared and polygonal facilities, and the basis of towers and ramps, which were connected the lower town to upper town. Free.
- 8 Krusha e Madhe Massacre Museum (Muzeu i Masakrës së Krushës së Madhe), Krushe e Madhe (at the village roundabout, go west go past the primary school and to the left), ☏ +383 45 540 076, [email protected]. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. The Krusha e Madhe Memorial Complex comprises the graves of those who were massacred, memorial plaques dedicated to the forcibly disappeared, and a museum that preserves the memory of the victims of the Krusha e Madhe Massacre of 25–27 March 1999. It is considered one of the most significant memorials of the 1999 Kosovo War, telling the stories of the victims through their personal belongings. Free.
- 9 Museum of Ukshin Hoti, Krusha e Madhe village. Tu-Su 09:00- 17:00. Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Bodrumi i Vjetër (Old Wine Cellar), Gëzim Hamza st, ☏ +383 29 277 345. Vineyards and wine.
- 2 Sefa Wine, Vllezërit Frashëri st., ☏ +383 49 512 663, [email protected]. vineyards and wine.
- Hiking (Kosovo Tourist Guides Association), ☏ +383 49372639, [email protected]. Hiking can be done on your own. If you however wish to engage a local guide, GuideKS is the umbrella organization of tourist guides in Kosovo. They will put you in touch with a local guide suitable for your activity.
- 3 Daka Wine, Elmaze Kadiri 1 (in the old part of the town), ☏ +383 49 316 923, [email protected]. Wine tasting with mezze.
- 4 Rahvera, ☏ +383 44 796 933, [email protected]. wineyards and winetastinɡ
- 5 Kosova Wine, Vellezerit Haradinaj, ☏ +383 49 999 901, [email protected]. Winery and winetasting.
Events
[edit]- 6 HardhFest, Bodrumi St. (near Stone Castle). The Hardh Fest stands as a cornerstone event in Rahovec, celebrating the region’s rich grape-growing heritage and its products. Held the first weekend of September, it positions itself as a key tourist attraction on Kosovo’s harvest map and beyond. Originating in 2001 and gaining national recognition over time, the festival provides a platform for local farmers, vineyard owners, wine producers, artists, youth, and the community to actively engage in social and cultural life. The festival marks the beginning of the grape harvest season, celebrating the culmination of the hard work of seasoned vineyard workers. The festivities, including shows, exhibitions, and cultural events, create a vibrant atmosphere, attracting numerous tourists each year. The Hardh Fest offers visitors a memorable experience, from the warm hospitality to the picturesque Hardh Camp with its stunning vineyard views, promoting grape products, environmental awareness, and local culture and arts. Additionally, the festival’s opening, highlighted by the symbolic cutting of the first grape bunch, officially inaugurates the harvest season, setting the tone for a weekend filled with joyous celebrations and cultural showcases in Rahovec. Free.
- 7 Agrofesta, inside the village (Krusha e Madhe village). 08:00-10:00. a festival taking place for 3 days each August in the village Krusha e Madhe, Municipality of Rahovec. The program contains concerts, selling of fruits and vegetables, games (tractor, rope pulling competition, catching fish by hands) etc. Agrofesta plays an important role in promoting agricultural identity and supporting the local economy. free.
Buy
[edit]On Saturdays, a daily market is held with seasonal local products.
By the roads around Rahovec Municipality, especially on the Prizren-Gjakova road, grapes, peppers, melons, watermelons and other in season produce is sold for reasonable prices by farmers from neighboring fields. Stop by the road and buy crates of them.
Eat
[edit]Traditional food is similar to all of Kosovo. Locally grown produce is outstanding.
- 1 Restaurant Bjeshka, Rahovec, ☏ +383 49 440 488.
- 2 Agroturizem Bella, Pikapesqind St. (8 km south), ☏ +383 45 505 544. Tu-Su 11:00-23:30.
- 3 Restaurant Te Baca Bija, Gezim Hamza Piktori St., Rahovec (near the Bodrumi i Vjeter), ☏ +383 44 764 418. Daily 10:00-23:30. Local traditional food including qebapa, pite, flija.
- 4 Restaurant Ura e Shenjtë, Egzodi 99 St. (12 km west, on the road to Gjakova, near White Drin Canyon), ☏ +383 44 807 777. Fish and local food restaurant.
- 5 Rrush e Verë, Hamoc village. 10ː00-24ː00. Mountain restaurant amidst the impressive nature of Hamoc
- 6 Agricultural Cooperative Krusha (Kooperativa Bujqësore Krusha), Krusha e Madhe village (on the Prizren-Gjakova road by the village), ☏ +383 44 255 096, [email protected]. 08:00-18:00 or 22:00. One of the 5 five agricultural cooperatives in Krusha e Madhe, offering pepper and cucumber products. Opening this cooperative was a difficult journey for the women of Krusha e Madhe, many of them war widows led by Mrs. Fahrije Hoti. She started producing these products with some of her family members. From 2006 to 2010, these women each worked in their own homes and sold in various fairs. Now they export to six European countries and the US. There are about 50 workers and about 43 products, including ajvar and pickles. starting at 3 EUR.
- 7 Korr e Ha, Hysni Duraku St., Krusha e Madhe village, [email protected]. 09:00-17:00. find the freshest local products. Offers vegetables, fruits, ajvar, pickles, and honey, prepared with care and love by the residents of Krusha e Madhe, especially by the working women of this village, known for their traditions and tireless work.
Drink
[edit]Rahovec has a lot of small coffee bars, especially near the sports hall and the Old Cellar Winery.
- 1 Caffe Bar N´Qosh, Gezim Hamza Piktori (close to Bodrumi i Vjeter), ☏ +383 49 244 939. A small nice bar, where you can drink different drinks.
- 2 Anes vneshtit, Hamovc (in the middle of the vineyards of Rahovec), ☏ +383 45 601 200. Anës Vneshtit is a tavern-type space.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Unum Events, UÇK St. Rahovec, ☏ +383 43 777 004.
- 2 Hotel & Restaurant Jaha, Rruga UCK, ☏ +383 44 888 304. €20.
Go next
[edit]- Prizren - There are buses every 30 minutes until 18:30. The price is €2 and it is paid on the bus, leaving from the main road out of town.
- Gjakova - The closest city in Kosovo 26 km western from Rahovec with the largest Ottoman-era bazaar in the Balkans.
- Peja - Buses connect in Gjakova. 1 hour drive.
- Prishtina- There are buses every 40 minutes until 17:30. The price is € 3,5 and it is paid on the bus, leaving from the main road out of town.
- Suhareka- 16 km east of Rahovec. It is worth visiting during the period when the "Festari" festival is held.