Protected Zone – Hoçë e Madhe

The village of Hoçë e Madhe lies in the southern part of the town of Rahovec, and approximately 20 km west of Prizren. The village has a population of about 700 inhabitants, mainly of the Serb community. It has a continental climate with Mediterranean influences, where annual temperatures range from -20°C to 40°C.

This mixture of climates is very favourable for the development of viticulture, with warm air currents coming from the valley of the White Drin river, which is also beneficial for agriculture. The favourable geographical position and the rich natural resources have made this settlement favourable, attractive and habitable.

According to some authors, the village was inhabited since the Roman period, and the local population engaged in viticulture and agriculture. The first written documents date from the period of the developed Middle Ages. It is thought that during this period Hoçë e Madhe became a small trading, production and cultural centre. Several crafts developed, and wine production and agriculture played an important role.

For this reason, the village has inherited a rich collection of buildings of historical, cultural and spiritual interest. Hoçë e Madhe has an architecture made up of religious and vernacular buildings. From the period of the village's founding several churches and shrines have remained; the village has 13 churches built in the 12th, 14th and 16th centuries, and many buildings, traditional dwelling houses and water mills.

The two main types of vernacular dwellings that dominate in Kosovo, and in Hoçë e Madhe, are the stone house and the oriental-type house. The village of Hoçë e Madhe is protected by law (LAW NO. 04/L-62 ON THE VILLAGE OF HOÇË E MADHE) and is a special protected zone of the cultural heritage of Kosovo.