Holiday apartment in Mirakë: Via Egnatia and historic bridges

Mirakë combines impressive bridge structures with preserved traces of the Via Egnatia. Particularly striking is Ura e Kamarës: according to the Turkish inscription on its stone plaque, it was built in 1715 by Ahmet from Elbasan. Five arched openings define the structure, whose paved walkway consists of rounded river stones. Ura e Kamarës is also listed in the register of cultural monuments of Elbasan County with the location given as Mirakë.

Culture

Another historic link is formed by the bridge Ura e Haxhi Beqarit, which dates from the 2nd or 3rd century AD. It connects the village of Mirakë with the Polis area. Mirakë is therefore home to two named bridges with distinctly different dates: Ura e Kamarës dates back to 1715, while Ura e Haxhi Beqarit is dated to Roman antiquity. Their names, construction forms, and recorded connections give each bridge its own place in the history of the area.

Landscape

The Shkumbin River flows directly beneath Ura e Kamarës in Mirakë. Near Mirakë, the Via Egnatia leaves the Shkumbin River and rises about 300 metres above the valley floor. Here, the river, bridge, and ancient route are therefore arranged in a clearly recognisable spatial sequence.

Hiking

The old Egnatia road has been preserved along the upper reaches of the Shkumbin, particularly in the mountainous areas of Librazhd between Mirakë and Qukës. Visitors can walk along the old Egnatia road and view preserved fragments of the ancient route. The preserved section of the Rruga Egnatia near Mirakë is about four metres wide in places and remains well paved. At the same time, the section between Mirakë and Babjë presents a more challenging side: after a 150-metre-long narrow section, further short narrow sections follow; caution is required when hiking. Roman paving stones of the Via Egnatia have also been preserved near Mirakë. Overall, less than one per cent of the Via Egnatia still has such Roman paving stones.

Further local page: Tregan.

Accommodation

The Ahmet en Lirie Hoxha accommodation is located next to the bridge on the southern side of the Shkumbin. Guests may also be directed to the Hotel Ballkan Resort on the main road; it is one kilometre east of the bridge.

Included services, price components, and booking and cancellation conditions may also play a role. This keeps the specific features of the individual offer separate from the historic and scenic characteristics of the area. Included services, individual price components, and booking and cancellation conditions can also be compared there. Those considering several offers can read these fields individually and assess the differences objectively, without equating them with the bridges, route sections, or river described. Before making a decision, the exact location, type of accommodation, possible occupancy, and services included in the price can also be checked on the respective offer page. Seasonal price components and the applicable conditions for changes or cancellations can likewise be considered separately there.

To the higher-level travel overview: Elbasan County.