EBRD and EU help to restore religious sites in Albania

The rehabilitation of four important religious heritage sites in Voskopojë and Vithkuq in the Korçë region of Albania has been completed under the Albania Infrastructure and Tourism-Enabling Project, co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Albanian Development Fund.

Representatives of the EU and the EBRD recently visited the four religious sites to mark the completion of the works and review progress under the wider programme.

The sites in question are the churches of St Mary and St Michael, and the monasteries of St Prodhomi and St Peter and St Paul – some of the region’s most valuable cultural and religious monuments. The rehabilitation included structural stabilisation, roof repairs and restoration works, as well as the improvements to the sites accessibility.

Ekaterina Solovova, the EBRD’s Head of Albania, said: “These sites are an important part of Albania’s cultural identity and a valuable asset for local tourism. Contributing towards their restoration is an important milestone under the Albania Infrastructure and Tourism-Enabling Project. In addition to supporting investments that protect cultural heritage, we – in partnership with the EU – also finance investments that improve access to these attractions, as well as helping local businesses in the tourism value chain.”
The completed works are expected to strengthen the appeal of Voskopojë and Vithkuq, two tourist destinations with significant cultural and historical value, while also supporting local communities that benefit from visitor activity. By improving the condition and accessibility of these monuments, the project contributes to both the preservation of heritage and the development of more sustainable tourism in south-eastern Albania.

The rehabilitation of the four sites forms part of a broader effort to support tourist infrastructure and improve the visitor experience in the Korçë region and beyond.

As part of the wider programme for the Korçë region, efforts are being made to diversify the area’s appeal to tourists and improve access to destinations. This includes the development of a gastronomic route in Boboshtica and the construction of a museum, as well as investment aimed at improving accessibility and adventure tourism infrastructure in Dardhë, Arrëz, Sinec and Nikolicë. Together, these investments are designed to help position the region as a more attractive year-round destination by combining cultural heritage, nature-based tourism and local gastronomy.

The Albania Infrastructure and Tourism-Enabling Project is supported by the EU through technical assistance and investment grants totalling €40 million, as well as receiving support from the EBRD in the form of a €60 million loan to the Albanian government. The programme is implemented by the Albanian Development Fund and supports investment in cultural and natural heritage sites in four regions (Berat, Fier, Korçë and Shkodër), as well as municipal and environmental infrastructure, transport links and tourism-related businesses across Albania. The programme also provides training to people working in tourism, giving them the local know-how and skills they need for a competitive tourism sector.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Albania, investing in transport, energy, municipal infrastructure and private-sector development across the country.