When visiting Përmet, you can’t miss the big rock that is prominently located at the Vjosa riverfront. Also called the “Stone of the City”, the rock formation has a height of 42 meters and you can get to the top by climbing the 101 steps. It’s well worth the effort because you’ll get an amazing view over the city and the Vjosa river. On top of the rock, you can also find the archaeological remains of a fortress, dating back to the 4th century. According to historians, the limestone fortification functioned as a signaling point for a military garrison. According to the local stories, Premt was the ruler of the fortress on the Stone of the City. He was deemed a hero after throwing himself off the rock, instead of getting captured by the enemies when the city was invaded. According to this story, this is why Përmet was named after Premt.
