The site

Maligrad, which means “small town”, is an island situated within the Albanian part of Great Prespa Lake close to the shore of Pusteci, the municipal center of the Great Prespa area in Albania. The lake is one of the two highest tectonic lakes in the Balkans. The other one is Lake Ohrid which is just twenty kilometers away and is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Albanian section of Lake Prespa however is also a natural wonder in itself. The Great Prespa Lake is a National Park which was established to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the region; it is included in the European Green Belt and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme. Biosphere Reserves are no classical “Nature Conservation Areas” as one might assume from the name “reserve”. In contrast to the concept of National Parks, which focuses on protection of natural processes, the concept of Biosphere Reserves puts the interaction between people and nature at its centre.

The transboundary Prespa region in the border area of Albania, Greece and North Macedonia, with its Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Ohrid-Prespa, is a good example of the close linkage between cultural and natural heritage. The whole region is rich in cultural heritage with a number of monuments stemming from pre-historic times over the Middle Ages till 19th and early 20th centuries.

Maligrad island, which measures approximately five hectares, is characterised by a rocky cliff covered with tree and grass vegetation and a sandy shore. With its diverse characteristics, it is home to a number of endangered and endemic species, such as the bats and birds living in the caves, and the emblematic pelicans which rest there in spring. Due the importance of its biodiversity, the entire island is part of the strictly protected core zone of the Prespa National Park.

Surrounded by a spectacular landscape of natural beauty, the island of Maligrad also stands out as an enclave of cultural relevance, containing important ancient vestiges that reflect the elaborate and wealthy history of Albania. Prehistoric drawings on the rocky cliffs testify to the long history of settlements in the Prespa area, and ongoing archaeological excavations on the island may reveal more on the history of this remarkable place.

The island is also home to the famous St. Mary Church, built in 1369 by Kesar Novak, a noble of Serbian origin, in a cave in the island’s rocky cliff. The church is a significant cultural monument administered by the Regional Directorate of Culture of Korça.

The church contains exquisite examples of religious art such as frescoes and also valuable documentary records in the way of Greek inscriptions dated to 1369. The Frescoes depict the family of Novak, and his Greek wife Kalia, providing an interesting window into the period. These examples of mural art are invaluable tokens of the past relevance of this area as a nesting ground of history in the midst of the Balkan region.

There is a strong ongoing regional initiative to protection and promote the natural and cultural values of the Prespa Lake. The joint conservation efforts of the natural and cultural heritage, of Maligrad Island in general and the European Heritage Volunteers Project in particular, can therefore be considered concrete activities that fill the Biosphere Reserve concept with life. Conserving the natural and cultural heritage, thereby attracting more visitors, lays a sound base for sustainable tourism and socio-economic development on a regional level, and establishes the area as a model region for environmentally and socially sound economic development.

The project

The project will focus on the St. Mary Church and its direct surroundings.

The church is currently covered by temporary roofing which cannot guarantee to be on a long-term water-resistant. Despite the church is partly protected by the surrounding rock which creates a kind of cave structure, it is – depending on the direction of the wind and the intensity of rain – exposed to climatic influences. Parts of the roof construction are damaged by wetness. The main task will be therefore to deconstruct the roofing, to repair the roof construction be replacing rotten parts and to reroof the monument.

In addition, a wooden platform is situated directly in front of the church which is used by visitors since the church itself is very tiny and has a capacity for only a few persons. The floor of the platform is partly broken, and the stability of the balustrade is limited. Due to the limited space nearby the church the platform will be used as a place to prepare the conservation of the church itself and to store the needed materials. If the technological process will allow, the floor and the balustrade will be repaired during the project, too.

Finally, the accessibility of the church will be improved by improving the foot path which leads from the pier to the church. 

The works will be lead by a master of carpentry experienced in heritage conservation with an additional education as “Restorer in Handicraft”.

There is a strong ongoing local initiative to provide protection and to promote the conservation of this architectonic jewel of the Prespa Lake and its natural environment.

The project will take place from August, 31st, to September, 12th, 2020 and is jointly organised in the framework of the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa Project by the GFA Consulting Group GmbH Branch Albania, the Directorate for Cultural Monuments Korça and European Heritage Volunteers, in partnership with the National Agency of Protected Areas Albania and the Regional Administration for Protected Areas Korça.