Ali Pasha’s Mill

The Mill of Ali Pasha Tepelena in Tepelena is one of the most characteristic objects of the area's folk heritage, attributed to the period of Ali Pasha's rule and still preserved today as evidence of the economic life of that time. Built near the watercourses that descend from the surrounding canyons, the mill operates with the natural thrust of water and is a typical example of Albanian hydraulic mills of the 18th–19th centuries. The building has two floors and inside the mill, traditional grinding mechanisms are preserved, including large stones (the millstone) that are turned by water power. Initially, the mill served for the processing of cereals—wheat and corn—being one of the main points where residents of the surrounding villages brought their products to be ground. In some periods, it was also used for other traditional works, such as washing wool or processing textiles, using the same natural energy.

Over time, after the collapse of the cooperative system, the facility passed into private ownership and was restored by the family that owns it today, which has preserved its functionality and maintains it as part of the local heritage. Today, the mill is accessible to visitors and is located very close to the city center, about one kilometer from the main square of Tepelena. It has gained attention as a cultural attraction, where visitors can see up close how a traditional mill based on old water technology still functions, almost the same as it did more than two hundred years ago. The surrounding natural scenery, as well as the fact that the mechanism is still active, make this mill a unique point that connects the history of Ali Pasha with the working culture and early traditions of the Tepelena area.