Lin Peninsula

Lin is a small village on a peninsula pushing into Lake Ohrid on the Albanian side, close to the border with North Macedonia, and on the hill above it are the remains of an early Christian basilica of the sixth century whose floor mosaics survive: geometric panels, birds, fish and vine scroll in coloured stone, sheltered under a modern roof and among the better mosaic pavements in the country. Underwater excavation off the peninsula has found evidence of a prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement dated very early, which is the subject of ongoing work. The village below has stone houses and a shore of clear water. The Albanian section of the Ohrid region was added to the World Heritage inscription in 2019.

What you actually see

• Sixth-century floor mosaics - birds, fish and vine scroll in coloured stone.
• The basilica remains - the early Christian church on the hill.
• Prehistoric pile dwellings - underwater evidence off the peninsula.
• Clear lake water - the shore below the village.

When to go

May to October. Half a day. The mosaic site has a keeper and limited hours, so check locally. The lake is warm enough to swim from late June. Summer weekends bring visitors from Pogradec.

Honest expectations

The site is small and access depends on a keeper being present. There is no interpretation to speak of. Facilities in the village are minimal. The underwater work is not visible to visitors.

Nearby

Pogradec is south along the lake; the North Macedonian border is close.