# Durrës

> city in Albania

**Wikidata**: [Q83285](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q83285)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durrës)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/durres

## Summary
Durrës is a big city and human settlement located in Durrës County, Albania. Situated on the coast at sea level, it serves as a significant urban center with a recorded population of 113,249 as of the 2011 census and an estimated 101,728 residents as of September 2023. historically known as Epidamnos and Dyrrhachium, the city has served as the capital for the Kingdom of Albania and the Principality of Albania.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Durrës County, Albania (Coordinates: 41.31°N, 19.45°E).
- **Area**: 46.3 square kilometres.
- **Elevation**: 0 metres (sea level).
- **Population**: 
  - 2023: 101,728 (census).
  - 2011: 113,249 (census).
  - 2001: 99,546 (census).
  - 1989: 82,719 (census).
  - 1979: 66,200 (census).
- **Timezone**: UTC+01:00 (Standard Time), UTC+02:00 (Daylight Saving Time).
- **UN/LOCODE**: ALDRZ.
- **Historical Names**: Replaces Epidamnos; also known as Dyrrhachium, Durazzo, and Durrësi.
- **Postal Code**: 2000.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 052.
- **Website**: https://durres.gov.al/ (Albanian).
- **Sports Facilities**: Owner of Niko Dovana Stadium and Ramazan Njala Sports Palace.

## FAQs
**What is the population history of Durrës?**
The city has fluctuated in population over recent decades, recording 66,200 residents in 1979 and peaking at 113,249 in the 2011 census. The most recent census data from September 2023 indicates a population of 101,728.

**What historical entities has Durrës served as the capital for?**
Durrës formerly served as the capital of the Principality of Albania starting March 7, 1914, until January 1920. It was also the capital of the Kingdom of Albania from 1272 until 1368.

**What are the twin cities of Durrës?**
The city is twinned with several international locations including Istanbul, Pristina, Prizren, Bari, Ulcinj, Thessaloniki, Brindisi, Andria, and Marano di Napoli.

**What are the native and official names for Durrës?**
The official name is Durrësi, while the native label is Durrës (indefinite) or Durrësi (definite). It has extensive alias lists including Durres, Epidamnos, Dirraquio, Durazzo, Dyrrhachium, and Дураццо, reflecting its multicultural history.

## Why It Matters
Durrës holds substantial historical and logistical significance within Albania and the Balkans. As one of the oldest cities in the region, originally founded as Epidamnos and later known as Dyrrhachium, it acts as a continuous link between ancient and modern eras. Its political relevance is highlighted by its former status as the capital of the Kingdom of Albania and the Principality of Albania. Today, it remains a crucial urban center and port, designated by the UN/LOCODE ALDRZ, serving as a key point for trade and travel in the Adriatic.

## Notable For
- **Ancient Origins**: The city replaces the ancient entity Epidamnos and is widely documented in classical encyclopedias like Pauly–Wissowa and the Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition.
- **Former Capital Status**: Distinguished as a former seat of power for the Kingdom of Albania (1272–1368) and the Principality of Albania (1914–1920).
- **Extensive International Recognition**: Possesses identifiers across major global libraries and encyclopedias, including the Library of Congress, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the Great Russian Encyclopedia.
- **Multilingual Nomenclature**: Known by dozens of aliases including Durazzo (Italian), Драч (Russian), and 杜勒斯, indicative of its widespread historical interaction with different empires and cultures.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Durrës is geographically situated at coordinates 41.313333° latitude and 19.445833° longitude. The city covers a total area of 46.3 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 0 metres above sea level. It is located within the administrative boundaries of Durrës County, having previously served as the capital of the Durrës District until 1993.

Demographic data reveals a trajectory of growth and subsequent decline over 44 years:
- **1979**: 66,200 residents.
- **1989**: 82,719 residents.
- **2001**: 99,546 residents.
- **2011**: 113,249 residents.
- **2023**: 101,728 residents.

### Historical and Political Status
The city's history is marked by its nomenclature and political standing. It is recognized as the successor to Epidamnos. Throughout history, it has held the status of a capital city for two distinct entities:
1.  **Kingdom of Albania**: Capital from 1272 to 1368.
2.  **Principality of Albania**: Capital from March 7, 1914, to January 1920.

The city has been a subject of description in numerous historical encyclopedias, including the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Otto's encyclopedia, and the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

### Infrastructure and Connectivity
Durrës is equipped with significant infrastructure facilities. It owns the Niko Dovana Stadium and the Ramazan Njala Sports Palace. The city operates under the UN/LOCODE ALDRZ, signifying its status as a logistical node. Communication and access are facilitated by the local dialing code 052 and the postal code 2000. The official municipal website is https://durres.gov.al/.

### International and Cultural Relations
The city maintains a robust network of sister city relationships (twinning) with:
- Istanbul
- Pristina
- Prizren
- Bari
- Ulcinj
- Thessaloniki
- Brindisi
- Andria
- Marano di Napoli

Culturally, Durrës is extensively cataloged in international authority files. It holds an ID in the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF: 126740035), the Library of Congress (n85257731), and the German National Library (GND: 4091381-8). It is also indexed in specialized databases such as the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire and the Encyclopedia of Islam.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Albania: Prefectures and Major Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information. Citypopulation.de](http://www.citypopulation.de/en/albania/cities/)
6. [Albania: Prefectures and Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information. Citypopulation.de](http://www.citypopulation.de/en/albania/cities/)
7. [Source](https://vici.org/vici/2105)
8. GeoNames
9. BBC Things
10. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/al.htm)
11. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
12. museum-digital
13. [Internet Domains Wikibase](https://domains.wikibase.cloud/entity/Q149819)