Water is woven into daily life here. Channels run past and beneath the old houses, and the cool spring water is used to raise fish for local restaurants. Tushemisht is one of the 100 villages selected by the Albanian government to promote rural tourism, and its centuries-old houses and the Church of St Panteleimon add to its character. The village was also the setting of the classic 1976 Albanian comedy Zonja nga qyteti (The Lady from the City), and a sculpture honours its star, Violeta Manushi.
In summer, visitors come for the long, gently sloping lakeside beach, with guesthouses, small hotels and fish restaurants close by. Nearby lies Drilon, a protected spring area and natural monument with clear streams, wooden bridges, shady paths, swans and short boat rides.
Calm and refreshingly green, Tushemisht is a lovely place to slow down by the lake.
