Peja
Peja Peć | |
|---|---|
City and municipality | |
View of Peja Ethnographic Museum | |
| Coordinates: 42°39′37″N 20°17′30″E / 42.66028°N 20.29167°E | |
| Country | Kosovo |
| District | Peja |
| Municipality | Peja |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Gazmend Muhaxheri (LDK) |
| • Council | Peja Municipal Council |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 602.63 km2 (232.68 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 3rd in Kosovo |
| Elevation | 516 m (1,693 ft) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Municipality | 82,661 |
| • Rank | 5th in Kosovo |
| • Density | 140/km2 (360/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 41,171 |
| • Ethnicity | |
| Demonym(s) | Albanian: Pejan (m), Pejane (f) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 30000 |
| Area code | +383 (0) 39 |
| Vehicle registration | 03 |
| Website | kk.rks-gov.net/peje/ |
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Peja or Peć, is the fifth most populous city in Kosovo and serves as the seat of the Peja Municipality and the District of Peja. It is located in the Rugova region on the eastern section of the Accursed Mountains along the Peja's Lumbardh in the western part of Kosovo.
In medieval times, the city was under Byzantine, Bulgarian and Serbian rule. After its integration into Serbian territory, it became the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1346. The Patriarchal monastery of Peć is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Medieval Monuments in Kosovo. Under Ottoman rule the city became a district capital with mosques and civil architecture. From the end of the nineteenth century until today, the city has been the site of nationalist aspirations and claims for both ethnic Albanians and Serbs, often resulting in tense inter-ethnic relations and conflict.
According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Peja has 82,745 inhabitants. The municipality covers an area of 602 km2 (232 sq mi), including the city of Peja and 95 villages; it is divided into 28 territorial communities.