Archaeological Guide of Kosovo

Novobërda
241
On a smaller mountain set between Prilepnica and Krivareka,
around 30-35 km west from Gjilan and approximately, 39 kilometers
south-east from Pristina, the ruins of the medieval town and fortress
of Novobërda are to be seen. Based on the written sources discovered
so far, Novobërda was mentioned for the first time at the first decades
of the 14th century AD, with the name Nuovo Monte (New Mountain).
The Medieval town was a mining center and up to the present days, remains
of the walls, watch towers and foundations of several other sacral
monuments within the area of the fortress are still preserved. The Novobërda
fortress is composed by; the Upper Town and the Lower Town,
built on the Novobërda hill. The Novobërda Upper Town, was erected
on top of the hill, while below, toward west, the Lower Town stretches
in a wide countryside territory.
The fortress has access only
from the eastern part, whereas
from the other parts the hills
are steep and inclining toward
the walleye. Toward the eastern
part, the terrain gradually
raises what makes possible to
pass to a lower hill in a plateau
whereas ruins of a large medieval
church of cathedral type
are to be found.
242
243
Kalaja
Fig.241. View of the Novobërda hill/fortress.
Fig. 242. Aerial picture of the Novobërdërda fortress.
Fig. 243. The Novobërda site setting.
Archaeological Guide of Kosovo 93