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.
Highlights: "Francis" turbines, wooden belts.
Context: First step to industrial milling.
Architecture: Ornate Austrian-Ottoman blend.
Directions: Near Bus Station/Transit Road.
Admission: Free public access; interior access may vary depending on restoration status
Photography: Allowed; best captured from the garden and façade angles
Alternate Names: Mulliri i Vjetër, Haxhi Zeka Granary
Getting There: Located near Peja’s train and bus stations, easily walkable from the city center
Open Hours: Mon-Sat 09:00–16:00. Grounds accessible daily; interior tours may require prior arrangement
Terrain: Flat courtyard.
Wheelchair: Ground floor accessible.
Last update
Jan 11, 2026
The Story
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.
