Këlcyrë

The municipal unit consists of the town Këlcyrë and the villages Fshat Këlcyrë, Sukë, Dishnicë, Mbrezhdan, Maleshovë, Limar, Toshkëz, Ballaban, Tolar, Çorrogunjë, Leskaj and Kala.[4]

The village of Maleshovë traditionally consists of three neighbourhoods, one Christian, one Muslim and one with families of both religions.[5]

A medieval chronicle from the year 1272 mentioned the location with the Latin name Clausura (a word with meaning "close", "castle", "fort"[6]). The Byzantine Suda lexicon, writes that the Romans called the forts at the passes (Greek: Κλεισοῦραι).[7] During the Byzantine era the town was also called Klisura (Κλεισούρα).[8]

In antiquity the region was part of Epirus, and afterwards was incorporated into Upper Macedonia. Later it became part of the Roman empire.

During[9] the Second Macedonian War against the Romans, the troops of Phillip V and Athenagoras of Macedon attempted to delay the Roman consul, Titus Quinctius Flamininus. The Macedonians had secured the passage and then blocked the Roman advance in 198 BC. A shepherd is said to have led the Roman troops through the mountains, so that they could attack the Macedonians in the narrow gorge of two sides and destroy them. The Macedonians had been decisively defeated a first time. Later, the Romans used the route through the gorge of modern Këlcyrë and built a small settlement.

To control this passage, a castle was built in the 13th century. When the town was incorporated in the Kingdom of Albania in the late 13th century it was ruled by the Muzaka family. The correspondence of the Roman Curia with the Albanian nobility indicates that in 1319 it was ruled by Count Mentul Muzaka.[10] After its capture by the Byzantine army, the Albanian population rebelled against Byzantine rule in 1335 and captured the fortress of the town.[8][11]

The Turks advanced and built in the 19th century also a seraglio At this time Këlcyrë experienced its bloom as a key trading center between Berat, Korça and Gjirokastra.

The capture of Klisura Pass (6–11 January 1941) was one of the most important victories of the Greek Army during the Greek-Italian War.

Even today, the road is the main access route through the gorge that connects Këlcyrë with Tepelenë and other centers of Albania. To the south, the road continues to Përmet in the capital district and then to Greece. The road leading to the north in the direction of Berat is paved only a few kilometers, and navigation over long distances is very difficult. Around Këlcyrë there are some age-old Eastern Orthodox churches.

• Ali Këlcyra, politician
• Sejfulla Malëshova, writer and politician, founder of the Albanian League of Writers and Artists in 1945.
• Veli bej Këlcyra, signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence.
• Hasan Bejo, Title Honorary Citizen, [[as a historical figure of the Permet region. For bravery as a freedom fighter in World War II for the liberation of the homeland. A high-ranking military man, educated in Rome and Warsaw, an authority with great moral influence for the province of Deshnica in Këlcyrë and throughout the Përmet region, cultivated the values of the community through the history of the village of Toshkez, Këlcyre. Mr. Bejo was a high figure in the whole region of Përmet and for the Bejo family. Large noble family with historical tradition, very wide friendly ties, positive impact on the whole social life of the area and the province. Important contributor through the professional military tradition prominent in the consolidation of the Albanian state. The Bejo family is also represented by well-known figures such as; military, writers, bankers, lawyers, artists, farmers and founders of the first albanological chair of Albanian language and culture at De Paul University in Chicago, USA]].

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