Ersekë

Ersekë
Administrative Unit
Ersekë
Coordinates: 40°20′N 20°41′E / 40.333°N 20.683°E / 40.333; 20.683Coordinates: 40°20′N 20°41′E / 40.333°N 20.683°E / 40.333; 20.683
Country	Albania
County	Korçë
Municipality	Kolonjë
Government
• Administrator	Ali Laho
Elevation	1,020 m (3,350 ft)
Population (2011)
• Administrative Unit	3,746
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal Code	7401
Area Code	(0)812

Ersekë (definite Albanian form: Erseka) is a town and a former municipality in southeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision and the seat of the municipality Kolonjë. Founded in the 17th century, Erseka was the seat of the former Kolonjë District. The population at the 2011 census was 3,746. Situated at the foot of the Gramos mountains, it is a small alpine town at 1050 meters in altitude, making it one of the highest towns in Albania.

The Kolonja range was originally inhabited by the Dassaretae, a Greek tribe that belonged to the Chaonian group.

The history of the town began at the 17th century. At 1785 city was populated from 100 families. At 1914 it came under the control of the Northern Epirote forces, which repelled the newly established Albanian gendarmerie units from the region.

At 21st November 1940, during the Greco-Italian War, units of the II Army Corps of the advancing Greek forces entered Ersekë after breaching the Italian defences.

The "Fan Stilian Noli" center hosts several artistic and cultural shows throughout the year. Its main theater of 400 seats hosts performances by various groups from Korçë, Tirana and local artists. The ethnographic museum also houses a collection of traditional costumes, textiles and other crafts, unique to the Erseka region.

In the center of the town is an obelisk, work of Odhise Paskali, which dates 28 November 1938.

Besides cultural activities, the town has its own football team KS Gramozi Ersekë and a stadium with a capacity of 6,000 spectators.

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