Winter in the Sharr Mountains: Brezovica and Prevalla

Two winter days in Kosovo's highest mountains: skiing at Brezovica, the alpine village of Prevalla, warm mountain food, and a descent into Prizren. Shtërpcë Old Town. Shtërpcë sits in a valley at the foot of the Sharr range, a small town with the churches of St. Nicholas and St. Jovan at its historic core. It is the last real stop for supplies before the mountains, so buy water, snacks and anything you need for the slopes here. On market days, farmers bring dairy and mountain herbs from the surrounding villages.. Shtërpcë A Day on the Slopes at Brezovica. About 12 km up the road, Brezovica was once one of Yugoslavia's best ski areas and a backup venue for the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics. Investment is returning to its lifts, guesthouses and mountain restaurants. Ski or snowboard for the day, or simply walk the snowy edges of the pine forest. Stay overnight in a guesthouse in Brezovica village.. Brezovica Ski Resort Prevalla Mountain Village. In the morning, take the mountain road about 21 km to Prevalla, a village at around 1,800 m inside Sharr Mountains National Park. In winter it is quiet and white, with guesthouses and seasonal ski runs when snow allows. Stop for flija and local dairy dishes, the traditional food of these mountains, before continuing.. Prevalla Sharr Mountains National Park. The whole route runs through Sharr Mountains National Park, established in 1986 to protect the high ridge shared with North Macedonia: Balkan pine forests, endemic plants and habitat for lynx and bear. Pull over at the viewpoints on the road between Prevalla and Prizren. In winter, stay on marked roads and paths; the high trails are for summer.. Sharr Mountains National Park Down to Prizren. The road descends from the mountains straight into Prizren. Warm up in a café on Shadervan Square, walk the stone lanes along the Lumbardhi river, and finish with dinner in the old town. From Prizren, the highway back to Prishtina takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.. Shadervan, Prizren