Kačanik

Kačanik
—  Municipality and city  —
Kačanik (Качаник) Kaçanik (Kaçaniku)
Kačanik Location in Kosovo
Coordinates: 42°13′N 21°15′E
Country	Kosovo
District	District of Uroševac
Area
• Total	221 km2 (85.3 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	33,454 (municipality)
• Density	158.4/km2 (410.3/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code
Area code(s)	+381 290
Car plates	05
Website	Municipality of Kačanik

Kačanik or Kaçanik (Albanian: Kaçanik or Kaçaniku; Serbian: Качаник, Kačanik, pronounced [kâtʃaniːk]) is a town and municipality in southern Kosovo, in the Uroševac district. The municipality covers an area of 211 km² (81 sq mi), including the town of Kačanik and 31 villages. It has a population of approximately 33,454. With the exception of eight Roma and 30 Bosniaks, the municipality is ethnically homogeneous Kosovo Albanian.

In March 2011 the pilot municipal unit of Đeneral Janković was established within the Kačanik municipality, holding approximately 10,000 out of the 33,454 total inhabitants.

History

An epitaph on a tombstone found in one grave from the 2nd century AD proves that inhabited localities existed in this region even in Antiquity. This grave was discovered in the early 1980s during the erection of the Shopping Mall in Kačanik. The artifact is now secure in the Kacanik Cultural Center.

The town was founded by Koxha Sinan Pasha, who erected the town mosque which exists even today, a public kitchen for the poor (imaret), a school near the mosque, two hane (inns similar to caravanserais), one Turkish bath (hammam), the town fortress and a few mills on the Lepenac river.

Kačanik became known administratively as a town by the end of 16th century, and up to year 1891 it was a part of the Ottoman sanjak (second-level administrative unit) of Üsküb (Skopje), known as "Nahije", which again belonged to the Kosovo Province of the Ottoman Empire. In 1878, Kačanik was intended to become a part of the Principality of Bulgaria according to the Treaty of San Stefano, but per the Treaty of Berlin it was returned to the Ottomans.

Economy

Considering that through Kačanik runs the main roadway that connects Pristina and Skopje, as well as the railway Kosovo Polje-Thesaloniki (constructed in 1879) Kačanik is an important place and a strategic economic focal point.

The Kačanik municipality is mainly known for the production of construction materials at several area companies. But there are many well cultivated farmlands and areas well suited for the development of farms, apiculture, arboriculture as well as various craftsman and artisans. The area is especially well suited for the development of winter and summer tourism. The area boasts some spectacular views and the downtown is home to a bus station, a small radio station, the remains of a Turkish fort, several streets lined with shops, banks, several large modern restaurants, and a weekly farmers market for produce, livestock and housewares.

Kačanik has an old tradition in private manufactures, especially when it comes to the production of calcareous stone, wood for construction purposes and other services and artisan skills.

Views of Kačanik

• 

  Kačanik from the east.

• 

  A view from Rakoc.

• 

  Kačanik from the west.

See also

• District of Uroševac

Notes and references

Notes:

a.	^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. The latter declared independence on 17 February 2008, while Serbia claims it as part of its own sovereign territory. Its independence is recognised by 86 UN member states.

References:

External links

• Municipality of Kačanik
• Kačanik (In Albanian)
• SOK Kosovo and its population