Why are these rugged Balkan peaks known as the Accursed Mountains?

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Stretching across Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, the Accursed Mountains are a labyrinth of jagged limestone and deep glacial valleys. Whether born from a devil's mischief or a mother's curse, this rugged terrain remains one of Europe's last unexplored frontiers.

The origin of the name 'Accursed Mountains'—known as Bjeshkët e Nemuna in Albanian and Prokletije in Serbo-Croatian—is a matter of local legend rather than geological fact. A local myth posits that the devil formed these sharp, glacial karsts during one day of devilry. Another claims a woman cursed the range after being unable to find water during a scorching trek with her children. A third legend attributes the name to Slavic soldiers struggling to march through the difficult terrain. Some accounts suggest the name was bestowed by soldiers who found the terrain difficult to traverse. These legends offer a mystical contrast to the region's harsh physical reality.

Geologically, the range is a product of the collision between the African and Eurasian plates. As the southernmost subrange of the 1,000-kilometre-long Dinaric Alps, it features intense karst topography and steep limestone slopes. The landscape was heavily shaped by Pleistocene glaciation, leaving behind features like the Rugova Canyon in Kosovo, which reaches depths of 1,000 metres. The mountains are characterized by extreme relief, with vertical drops of up to 1,800 metres. This dramatic topography is a hallmark of the Dinaric karst system.

The range is remarkably diverse and remains largely unexplored. It is one of the wettest areas in Europe; in the village of Boga, annual precipitation reaches 3,033 mm. The region is also home to various Albanian tribes, such as the Hoti and Kelmendi, who traditionally live as sheep herders. High peaks like Maja Jezercë, standing at 2,694 metres, define this rugged, pathless landscape. The highest summit in the range is Maja Jezercë, which reaches an elevation of 2,694 metres. This peak is not only the highest point of the Accursed Mountains but also of the entire Dinaric Alps.

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