Elbasan Inn, Cultural Monument in Korçë, Albania.
The Elbasan Inn is a historic lodging building in Elbasan with thick stone walls, exposed wooden beams, and an open courtyard in the center. Today it functions as both a hotel and restaurant, displaying traditional building methods used throughout this region.
The building dates to the Ottoman period when it served merchants traveling trade routes across the Balkan regions. These commercial connections shaped the city's prosperity and influenced the local building styles of that era.
The inn shows how merchants and travelers lived in this region, with crafted details visible throughout the rooms and courtyards. The way the building was designed reflects local building traditions and how people organized their daily activities around a central space.
The building sits in Elbasan's old town and is reached by walking through the narrow streets of the city center. It helps to visit early in the day when fewer guests are present and you can better observe the architectural details.
The building preserves its original function as both lodging and dining place and remains one of the few structures from that period still actively used today. This dual role makes it a living museum where you can see how old structures work in modern life.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.