Kosovo is notorious for its complicated geopolitics, and these religious sites are stark reminders of the region’s challenges. They are obviously significant to Serbia as Serbian Orthodox Christian churches and monasteries. They are, however, in a province that is fighting for total liberation from Serbia, so tension is unavoidable.
This collection of sites, as well as its World Heritage classification, are strongly intertwined with Kosovo’s historical wars. It’s no surprise that the Medieval Monuments of Kosovo were designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004. Kosovo saw its worst unrest since the Kosovo War in 1998-1999 in the same year. Because of the continued tensions, UNESCO designated these historical sites as “at-risk” in 2006, and they are now protected.