Industrial Mill
Mill of Haxhi Zeka
The Mill of Haxhi Zeka in Peja is Kosovo’s industrial cornerstone - built in the 1850s by a national revolutionary, it became the region’s first mechanized grain mill and a symbol of Albanian entrepreneurship and modernization.
Getting There
📍 Getting There: Located near Peja's train and bus stations, easily walkable from the city center.
🧭 Directions: Near the bus station/transit road.
🕒 Open Hours: Monday-Saturday 09:00-16:00. Grounds accessible daily; interior tours may require prior arrangement.
♿ Accessibility: Flat courtyard. Ground floor wheelchair accessible.
Field Archaeologist & Ancient History Guide
Dr. Ilir Krasniqi
Insider tips
Admission: Free; interior access may vary.
Highlights: "Francis" turbines, wooden belts.
Context: First step to industrial milling.
Architecture: Ornate Austrian-Ottoman blend.
Photography: Allowed; best from the garden and façade.
Loacally Know as
Mulliri Haxhi Zekës
Built in the 1850s, the Mill of Haxhi Zeka was a pioneering industrial facility in Kosovo. Haxhi Zeka, a prominent Albanian nationalist and civic leader, commissioned the mill to serve the grain needs of Peja and the surrounding villages. It initially operated using water power via a wooden wheel located in the garden, later transitioning to electricity.
The mill was equipped with advanced machinery donated by Austria-Hungary, making it the most technologically sophisticated grain processing site in the region. It included a granary and a three-story structure - then the tallest building in Peja - with arched windows and a mixed stone-brick façade.
After Haxhi Zeka’s death, his nephew Yasar Pasha managed the mill. It remained operational until the late 20th century, when it was dismantled during the 1994 and 1999 conflicts. Restoration began in 2004, preserving the granary and key architectural elements.
Today, the mill is a protected archaeological heritage monument and a symbol of Peja’s industrial and patriotic legacy. It is often visited by historians, students, and tourists exploring the city’s layered past.
