Vlachs ‘Open days’: Community activities in the Upper Vjosa Valley
In July 2023, CeRPHAAL organized a series of engaging cross-cultural activities aiming at recording, promoting and disseminating the heritage of the historic Vlach community. These ‘open days’ events took place at the Vlach dwelling site, in the Albtourist Ecocamp and brought together the local community, stakeholders, researches, students, and visitors.The program brought to life traditional domestic activities of the Vlach society, such as wool processing, a key traditional activity historically carried out by Vlach women. Visitors had the chance to see authentic tools used for creating homespun clothes, such as wool brushes, distaffs, and hand spinning wheels, displayed in the reconstructed Vlach hut.
Vlachs ‘Open days’
Elderly Vlach women from Përmet demonstrated the traditional methods of processing wool into yarn, offering hands-on opportunities for students and visitors to interact with the process and learn through experimentation.
As part of the experience, a photo documentary titled “The Vlachs: A Short History as Seen Through the Lens of Photography” was presented in a widescreen projection at the site. Additionally, a film documentary showcasing rare and valuable moments of Vlach life in Albania from 1945 to 1970 was screened for visitors.