Berat

Berat is a city in south-central Albania and the administrative center of Berat County. It lies on the left bank of the Osum River, in a valley at the foot of the Tomorr mountains. The city’s historic core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2008 as the Historic Centre of Berat for its long urban continuity and its well-preserved Ottoman and earlier architectural ensembles.

Its skyline is defined by Berat Castle, perched on a hill above the city. The castle complex contains churches, mosques, and residences, and houses the Onufri National Museum within the Church of the Holy Trinity. The lower town is organized around two historic neighborhoods, Mangalem on the hill to the east of the Osum and Gorica on the opposite bank; the two districts are connected by bridges and stairways, with white limestone houses and wooden balconies that give Berat the nickname the “city of a thousand windows.”

Berat’s historic core includes a range of religious monuments, vaulted houses, and narrow streets that illustrate cultural exchange across centuries. The city remains a regional center for tourism, crafts, and services, while surrounding countryside supports agriculture, notably olives and vineyards. Today the city blends its architectural heritage with modern life, drawing visitors interested in its heritage, scenic river valley, and traditional Albanian urban landscape.