Lushnjë

Lushnjë (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈluʃɲə]) (Lushnje (ˈluʃɲe) in Lushnjë's own dialect) is a town and a municipality in Central-West Albania. It is located in the County of Fier. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Allkaj, Ballagat, Bubullimë, Dushk, Fier-Shegan, Golem, Hysgjokaj, Karbunarë, Kolonjë, Krutje and Lushnjë, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Lushnjë. The total population is 83,659 (2011 census), in a total area of 372.72 km². The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 31,105.

History

The town was founded in late medieval times by a widow called Salushe. She built a rest stop called Hani i Salushes on the road from Durrës to Berat and Fier, giving birth to the town. As of 2000, old men still called the town Salushe. Lushnjë is the only town in Albania founded by a woman.

In January 1920, Lushnjë was a provisional capital of Albania and the place of the Congress of Lushnjë. Chieftains of Albania assembled in the town and declared Tirana first a provisional and then the definitive capital of Albania.