Korçë

Town and district of southern Albania, near the Greek border; population (2001 est) 69,300 (town); 168,800 (district). It is an industrial and commercial centre producing machine tools, textiles, agricultural machinery, and leather products. It is situated in the country's chief wheat-growing region, and agriculture and vineyards are also important to the local economy.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Korçë became an important centre of the movement for independence from Turkish rule, producing influential patriots such as Themistokli Germenji and Mihal Grameno. The town was occupied by both Greek and French forces during the World War I.

The Museum of Medieval Arts (l980) covers the 5th to the 19th century and features works by Albanian painters such as Onufri and David Selenica. It houses a 10th-century iconostasis carved under the direction of Master Dhimiter. The first school in the Albanian language was established in Korçë in l887, and the building later became home to the National Museum of Education (1967). The first brewery in Albania was established here and is still in operation.