Garantira

Garantira is a fortified village and a municipal unit in the Babush district of the Goran Town municipality, Kosovo. The village is situated on the right bank of the Sitnica river and is located approximately 15 kilometers northwest of the town of Gjilan.

The area that is now Garantira has been inhabited since ancient times. The name Gaz Marandiq has been recorded on the Ottoman defter of Koprivnica from the year 1455, and it is believed that the village was previously known by this name. The name Gaz Marandik was mentioned again in a later defter from the year 1457.

The village was surrounded by fortress-like stone walls to protect its residents from attacks. The walls stretched for 360 meters, with three corners being entirely stone-built, while the fourth corner joining the stone walls was made of soil. Two towers constructed in the 15th century stand at two of the corners of the fortified walls.

The village of Garantira contains a range of cultural and historical artifacts, including stone buildings, mosques, and several traditional homes. Most of the residents engage in agriculture and livestock breeding. The village is a relatively small one with enough houses.

In terms of historical context, the village was used as a residence and headquarters by many Albanians who fought in the Balkan Wars.