Kacanik
Encyclopedia
Kačanik or Kaçanik 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 Mars 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.
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 caravanserai
s), 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.
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.
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, in the Uroševac
District of Uroševac
The Uroševac District or Ferizaj District is one the seven districts of Kosovo, with seat in Uroševac.-Municipalities:* Uroševac * Štimlje * Kačanik * Štrpce...
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
Roma in Kosovo
Roma in Kosovo are Serbian Roma , polylingual Roma and Albanian Roma who self-identify as Ashkali or Balkan Egyptians...
and 30 Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
, the municipality is ethnically homogeneous Kosovo Albanian
Albanians in Kosovo
Albanians are the largest ethnic group in Kosovo . According to the 1991 Serbian census, boycotted by Albanians, there were 1,596,072 ethnic Albanians in Kosovo or 81.6% of population...
.
In Mars 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 epitaphEpitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
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
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
which exists even today, a public kitchen for the poor (imaret
Imaret
An imaret is one of a few names used to identify the Ottoman soup kitchens built throughout the Ottoman Empire from the 14th into the 19th century. These public kitchens were often part of a larger complex known as a Waqf, which could include hospices, mosques, caravanserais and colleges...
), a school near the mosque, two hane (inns similar to caravanserai
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
s), one Turkish bath (hammam
Hammam
A Turkish bath is the Turkish variant of a steam bath, sauna or Russian Bath, distinguished by a focus on water, as distinct from ambient steam....
), the town fortress and a few mills
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
on the Lepenac
Lepenac
The Lepenac is a river in southern Kosovo and northern Macedonia, a long left tributary to the Vardar river.- Sirinić :The Lepenac springs out on the Kodža Balkan mountain, east of the city of Prizren, Kosovo, at an altitude of . It flows eastward, into the župa of Sirinić, between the Žar...
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
Sanjak
Sanjaks were administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire. Sanjak, and the variant spellings sandjak, sanjaq, and sinjaq, are English transliterations of the Turkish word sancak, meaning district, banner, or flag...
(second-level administrative unit) of Üsküb (Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
), known as "Nahije", which again belonged to the Kosovo Province
Kosovo Province, Ottoman Empire
The Vilayet of Kosovo was a vilayet of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkan Peninsula which included the current territory of Kosovo and the western part of the Republic of Macedonia...
of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. In 1878, Kačanik was intended to become a part of the Principality of Bulgaria
Principality of Bulgaria
The Principality of Bulgaria was a self-governing entity created as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. The preliminary treaty of San Stefano between the Russian Empire and the Porte , on March 3, had originally proposed a significantly larger Bulgarian territory: its...
according to the Treaty of San Stefano
Treaty of San Stefano
The Preliminary Treaty of San Stefano was a treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed at the end of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78...
, but per the Treaty of Berlin it was returned to the Ottomans.
Economy
Considering that through Kačanik runs the main roadway that connects PristinaPristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
and Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, as well as the railway Kosovo Polje
Kosovo Polje
Kosovo Polje or Fushë Kosova is a town and municipality in the Pristina district of central Kosovo, at 42.63° North, 21.12° East, or approximately eight kilometres south-west of the capital Pristina...
-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.