Peje

The Albanian name's definite form is Peja and the indefinite Pejë. The Serbian name for the city is Peć. The etymology of the city's name in Serbian is derived from the South Slavic word for cave, Pećina. The connection is in reference to nearby caves to the city. During the period of Ottoman rule, it was known as Ottoman Turkish İpek (ايپك). Other names of the city include Latin Pescium and Greek Episkion (Επισκιον) meaning "Episcopal City". It was also known as Siparant.

The city is located in a strategic position on Peja's Lumbardh, a tributary of the White Drin to the east of the Accursed Mountains. The medieval city was possibly built on the ruins of Siparant(um), a Roman municipium (town or city). The area has the most unearthed stelae in all of Kosovo. Archeological studies have concluded that settlements in the Peja region have existed since the Paleolithic and Mezolithic periods. Several ancient ruins in Peja and in its surrounding villages have been declared as UNESCO heritage monuments, including the ancient fortifications of Gradina and Gjyteti, as well as the archeological sites of Doberdol, Kryshec, Vranoc, Tuma and Peja (archeological site located inside the city), together with the Roman archeological site of Stanica in Gllogjan. …

Peja is located in western Kosovo near the Rugova Canyon or Gorge. Rugova is a mountainous region entered through the north-west part of the city of Peja. It is the third region of Accursed Mountains. In 2013 it became a National Park. Rugova is known for its natural environment and access to the mountains. The city is located some 85 km (53 mi) west of Pristina, 250 km (155 mi) north of Tirana, Albania, 150 km (93 mi) north-west of Skopje, North Macedonia, and some 180 km (112 mi) east of Podgorica, Montenegro. The region of Peja is rich in water resources. The White Drin and Lumbardhi i Pejës rivers pass through the municipality of Peja. Peja has an Oceanic climate (Cfb) as of the Köppen climate classification with an average annual temperature of 9.0 °C (48.2 °F). The warmest month in Peja is August with an average temperature of 19.7 °C (67. …