Gjirokastra Obelisk

About The Gjirokastra Obelisk

The Obelisk is located on the highest peak in the center of Gjirokastra from where you can oversee the entire city. You can have some spectacular views of the Drinos Valley and you have a great view at the Gjirokastra Castle.

The obelisk is called the “Motherland ABC” (Mëmëdheu ABC) and was erected as a symbol for education in Albania and to celebrate the Albanian language. On the same hill, next to the obelisk is the building of the former “liria” (freedom) school, which was opened in 1895 as the first Albanian school in Gjirokastra. Under Ottoman rule Albanians were not allowed to use their own language in schools so this was a very dangerous practice for the teachers at that time. The monument is built from hewn stone and is 7 meters in hight.