Pukë (definite Albanian form: Puka) is a town and municipality in northern Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Gjegjan, Pukë, Qelëz, Qerret and Rrapë, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Pukë.The total population is 11,069 (2011 census), in a total area of 505.83 km2. The local football club is called KS Tërbuni Pukë.
At 838 metres above sea level, the town is one of the highest in elevation in Albania and a well-known ski area. It is 150 km from Albania’s capital, Tirana.
History
In the 20th century, Pukë was expanded as a military base and a centre of Catholic education. The distinguished Albanian poet Migjeni worked there from 1936 to 1937. The school where he worked as a teacher is a tourist attraction. The town is surrounded by a 400-hectare massif covered with pine trees.
Anthropology
The settlement is inhabited by the tribe of Puka, itself one of the “seven tribes of Puka”. According to tradition, collected by Hyacinthe Hecquard [fr] in the mid-19th century, the settlement of Puka had been founded by a Paolo Zenta, who according to Marin Barletius was a relative of Lekë Dukagjini.
The region also has its own Kanun, a set of traditional Albanian laws and is known as Kanuni i Pukës (English: Canon of Pukë) and used mainly in Northern Albania and Kosovo.
The toponym may derive from Latin via publica (“public road”) as it was located on an old trade route.
Economy
The hotel standing in the town square has been upgraded and now boasts a microbrewery producing Puka Beer, which is a lager in draught form.