On the 8th and 9th of September, outside the walls of the historic fortress of Bashtova, the “Festival of Bashtova,” a combination of art, culture, music and outdoor activities, accompanied by a rich cultural and artistic fair, was organized, attracting participants and visitors from all over.

The first day of the festival started in the afternoon at 18:00, when the streets of Bashtova were filled with the stands of local artisans and local products. Here, visitors had the opportunity to explore the works of artisans from Kavaja and Rrogozhina, which displayed their special wealth. This characteristic fair became an important incentive to promote and support the traditional values of this culturally rich area.

At 20:00, the stage was opened, where the mayors of Kavajë and Rrogozhinë Municipality, together with representatives from the delegations of the European Union and UNOPS in Albania, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Culture, and the executive director of AULEDA, gave the speech their warm welcome. Through their honorable participation, they emphasized the importance of this festival for the cultivation and promotion of the cultural and natural heritage of Kavaja and Rrogozhina.

After the speeches, the atmosphere was filled with the sounds of traditional Albanian music, performed by singers from the group “Burrat e Kavajës”. But there were also contemporary art performances; “Art Academy” presented an amazing modern dance spectacle. The new Albanian music was passionately represented by the youth groups “Golden Voices” and “Juix ft.”, adding an extraordinary freshness to the atmosphere of the festival. Meanwhile, the electronic beats of “Nelly DJ” supported this celebration of art and culture in an unforgettable way.

The main aim of the “Festival of Bashtova” is to become an annual cultural event that promotes and preserves the cultural and natural heritage of this special area. This festival was organized within the “Routes4culture” project, which was realized with the financial support of the European Union through the EU4Culture program and was successfully implemented by UNOPS in close cooperation with the Ministry of Culture.

The “Festival of Bashtova” will always be remembered as a wonderful event that combined art, culture and music under the sky of this area rich in history and heritage. This festival highlights the potential of old customs and new values, helping to preserve and promote Albania’s cultural heritage.

In the Castle of Bashtova, with a certified guide and a group of young people passionate about hiking and trekking routes from the city of Rrogozhine, today they tested two routes designed within the platform: routes4culture.com, namely the Pines’ Route and the Venetian Route.

The design of 5 tourist itineraries, hiking, trekking and bicycle, was carried out within the EU-funded Routes4Culture project, within the EU4Culture Program, which is being implemented by UNOPS with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Albania.