General's Beach (Kavaje)

The General's Beach begins with the urban legend that there was an Italian general of the Second World War, who had come to Albania in the early 40s, when Italy occupied Albania. According to the Shqip newspaper, during the expeditions in the area of ​​Kavaja, precisely in the village of Bardhor - where one of the prisons of the Albanian state is still located today - he came across a wonderful bay about 400 meters wide, which was kissed by a deep blue sea which was broken into pieces rocky, creating a broken water-land line which closed with two left-right capes, in the shape of a horseshoe. This turquoise-blue pocket was lined with lush green bushes and rolling hills that amazed the soldier. And outside of the context of the war he shared with his mind that this was a wonderful bay for beaching. Shortly after he returned to Italy, he took his family and taught the bay once more, but this time by yacht, from the sea. More than sixty years have passed since then, but even to this day, this bay continues to be called the General's Beach, because of the frequenting of the former soldier, for consecutive years, until the end of the war. Now it cannot be called any other way, although the number of those who frequent it is much larger than just a rich family of the times of war. However, it still has a small connection, because it continues to be a very popular place even for the Albanian military (former president Aleksandër Moisiu), or even for well-known state figures who have visited this impressive place at least once. not counting other public figures who have staked out their holiday nest here every summer.

Geography

Gjenerali Beach is the most beautiful and attractive part of the entire Kavaja Riviera consisting of 30 km of coastline, which makes you fall in love with it from the moment it suddenly appears on the horizon, just after you have crossed the hills of Kryevidhi. The rocky capes that surround it are conglomeratic and have filled the coast with small colorful objects that form an amazing mosaic that harmonizes with the blue of the water, the green of the bushes and the yellow of the beach sand. The aquatic world is rich with different types of fish and a special species of sea turtle which has chosen this small beach to breed its species.

The landscape

The panorama of the bay is fantastic, it creates a complete feeling of calmness and relaxation, makes you fall in love with nature. In recent years, a small tourist complex has been carved into the hills of this bay, which first of all has respected nature, using only wooden structures, from small villas, apartments to restaurant verandas that offer seafood cuisine. and fresh fish for many vacationers. Everything is completely in harmony and placed where it should be, adding only beauty and no burden to the interior.

Castle, Church and Forest

Bashtova Castle is a valuable cultural monument that you will find just a few kilometers outside of Kavaja and that testifies to the traces of civilization. Its surroundings have remained intact and are today preserved as a cultural monument by the Albanian state. A laurel forest flourishes around the castle, which, in addition to being declared a natural monument, also creates a very attractive environment for outdoor picnics. From the walls of the castle you can observe the coast like in the palm of your hand, from the Bay of Durrës to Divjaka and Karavasta. To visit the castle you must go to the village of Vilë Bashtovë, south of the city.

A few km from Kavaja in the village of Çetë, there is the Church of Shënepremte, a medieval church, decorated with frescoes of saints. In this church, the townspeople come three days after Easter to celebrate and congratulate each other. The holiday is used by citizens of both religious faiths, to organize it in the form of a massive outdoor picnic, under the shade of the many olive trees on the hills. To get to Çetë, you need to take the road at the northern exit of the city.

Bedenit Forest is also a very suitable destination for free time, for nature explorers, adventure lovers and lovers of Albanian flora. It is a very mixed forest, with an area of ​​about 300 hectares, located on the hills of Beden village. The road there passes through the villages of Luz i Madh, Luz i Vogël and Kryevidh, 15 km south of the city.