Rahovec

Rahovec is a largely rural region in Kosovo centered around the town of Rahovec. It is known for vineyards and wine-making. Rahovec is located in the agricultural rich Dukagjini Valley in the region of Prizren of western Kosovo.

Understand

The town had 16,000 inhabitants in 2011, while the municipality 56,000 inhabitants and 35 villages.

The town is known for a local dialect, Orahovac dialect (ravëqki; rahovecianshe, gjuha e Rahovecit) which is a mixture of Albanian, Serbian, Turkish and Bulgarian languages. Its use has declined rapidly after the Kosovo War, with Albanian becoming the predominant language.

Get in

The town is easily accessible by bus from the nearby towns of Prizren and Gjakova, and the capital Prishtina.

Get around

The town is walkable though built on hillsides. Hitchhiking or biking to destinations nearby is possible and agricultural tractors are common place in the region.

See

St. John's Church at Hoçë e Madhe

The town is home to a large Tarikat Muslim Community with dervish lodges or tekkes found across the town. The nearby Christina Orthodox sites in Hoça e Madhe (Velika Hoča) 8 km away and Zoqishtë (Zociste) include monasteries and churches and are well worth the visit. The Serb populated region is home to the winery of the Decani Monastery. Make sure to ask for raki and wine.

Two wineries nearby, Bodrumi i Vjetër (Old Cellar) and Sefa Wines offer tours of the wineries and vineyards as well as wine tasting.

• 1 Velika Hoca Village and Monastery (Hoça e Madhe) (from Rahovec, head in the direction of Suhareka). Protected village and Serb Orthodox Church offering several cultural monuments and local wines (updated May 2022)

• 2 Zociste Monastery (Manstiri i Zoçishtes) (head in the direction of Suhareka, past Hoça e Madhe). Serb Orthodox Church Monastery offering local wine (updated May 2022)

Do

Biking across the region is promoted. In this area you will ‘Wine Routes/Rruget e Verës’ signs scattered around the region.

• 1 Bodrumi i Vjetër (Old Wine Cellar), Gëzim Hamza st., Rahovec 21010, ☏ +383 29 277 345. vineyards and winery (updated May 2022)

• 2 Sefa Wine, Vllezërit Frashëri st., Rahovec 21000, ☏ +383 49 512 663, info@sefawinery.com. vineyards and winery (updated May 2022)

• Hiking (Kosovo Tourist Guides Association), ☏ +383 49372639, guidesinkosovo@gmail.com. Hiking can be done on your own. If you however wish to engage a local guide, GuideKS is the umbrella organization of tourist guides in Kosovo. They will put you in touch with a local guide suitable for your activity. (updated May 2022)

Buy

Ask for homemade wines and raki.

Eat

Traditional food is similar to all of Kosovo. Locally grown produce is outstanding.

• 1 Restaurant Bjeshka, Rahovec, ☏ +383 49 440 488. (updated May 2024)

Drink

Ask for homemade wines and raki.

Go next

• Prizren
• Gjakova
• Peja
• Prishtina