Museum of Kosovo

Pristina

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Pristina's main museum has recently reopened after extensive renovations. Displays begin back in the misty times of the Bronze Age. There are some wonderful statues and monuments to Dardanian gods and goddesses, plus a large stone relief depicting a Dardanian funeral procession.

Bizarrely, the museum then happily skips some 2000 years of history (because clearly nothing at all of note happened between 200 AD and the modern age!) to move straight onto the 19th century and a collection of military weapons which, if nothing else, illustrates how much our technological knowledge has advanced but our intelligence hasn't…

Most displays are labelled in English, leaflets giving more detail are also available.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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    Bear Sanctuary

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    In a remote, forested spot beyond the village of Mramor, this sanctuary houses European brown bears that were rescued from captivity by the charity Four…

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    Emin Gjiku Ethnographic Museum

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    This wonderful annex of the Museum of Kosovo is located in two beautifully preserved Ottoman houses enclosed in a large walled garden. The English…

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    Gračanica Monastery

    4.95 MILES

    Southeast of Pristina in the Serbian town of Gračanica is the ancient Gračanica Monastery, completed in 1321 by Serbian king Milutin. The monastery, which…

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    Sultan Mehmet Fatih Mosque

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    The 'imperial mosque', as locals call it, was built on the orders of Mehmed the Conqueror around 1461, and although it was converted to a Catholic church…

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    Gadimë Cave

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    Discovered in 1969, this impressive marble cave is full of quite extraordinary crystallised stalagmites and stalactites that have formed over millions of…

  • Street scene in downtown Pristina, the capitol of Kosovo. Many mosques are located in this predominantly Muslim nation.

    Jashar Pasha Mosque

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    This mosque, which was fully renovated in 2015 as a gift from the Turkish government, has vibrant interiors that exemplify Turkish baroque style.

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    The hills east of Pristina have been mined for silver for hundreds of years and the 13th-century Novo Brdo fortress is a testament to the importance that…

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Nearby Pristina attractions

1. Jashar Pasha Mosque

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This mosque, which was fully renovated in 2015 as a gift from the Turkish government, has vibrant interiors that exemplify Turkish baroque style.

2. Carshi Mosque

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Due to renovations, this majestic 15th-century mosque was closed to the public at the time of research.

3. Clock Tower

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This 26m-high tower dates from the 19th century and was central to the bazaar area, as it dictated when stalls should close for prayers. Following damage…

4. Sultan Mehmet Fatih Mosque

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The 'imperial mosque', as locals call it, was built on the orders of Mehmed the Conqueror around 1461, and although it was converted to a Catholic church…

5. Emin Gjiku Ethnographic Museum

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This wonderful annex of the Museum of Kosovo is located in two beautifully preserved Ottoman houses enclosed in a large walled garden. The English…

6. Independence House of Kosovo

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This small house opposite the stadium is devoted to former president Ibrahim Rugova and Kosovo's recent independence movement. English-speaking guides…

7. Newborn Monument

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These iconic block letters in downtown Pristina look a bit scrappy and worn these days, but they captured the imagination of the fledgling nation when…

8. National Gallery of Kosovo

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This excellent space approaches Kosovan art from a contemporary perspective (don't expect to see paintings from the country's history here) and is worth a…