Castles of Albania are an indispensable point of visit for any tourist traveling to this country . Of course, many have not survived in their primeval brilliance and power, but even what remains of them can tell us a lot about the distant life of these structures and the history of the country.
Castle of Rosafa
This castle is located near the city of Shkoder . It is believed that it originated in the VI-V centuries BC. And already in the III century BC. there was laid a majestic fortress. Now from the castle of Rosafa there are only ruins, but some of its buildings have remained quite good. For example, one of the barracks. It now houses a museum dedicated to the history of this place. Visitors can see ancient Illyrian coins, paintings and other objects connected with the history of this place. The entrance to the castle of Rosafa costs 200 lek.
Berat Castle
Berat Castle is located on a hill above the town of the same name. This fortress, like the previous one, remained poorly. But it has become one of the places where you can soak up the atmosphere of antiquity and history.
Berat Castle was built in the IV century BC. Since most of the population of the fortress was Christian, here you will find many destroyed churches. One of the most impressive is the Church of the Holy Trinity. It is built on a slope, and looking at it, it may seem that the church hangs over the precipice. You can get to the castle by going up from the city of Berat up the cobbled street.
The Castle of Gjirokastra
The castle of Gjirokastra is located on the territory of the city of the same name . It is believed that it was built in the XII century as a protective structure. The building was reconstructed already in the XIX century. Now this building consists of five towers, a church and stables. Its main decoration is fountains. At the moment, the castle houses a military museum. Getting to the city of Gjirokastra is easiest by bus.
Castle Kruja
In Albanian, the name of this castle sounds like Kalaja e Krujës. And he, as it is easy to guess, is located in a city called Kruja . This castle was the center of resistance of the Ottoman Empire. In its entire history, it has not been destroyed even by the most legendary conquerors. Now Kruja is well restored and within its walls there is the State Museum. And next to the castle is another attraction - the Ethnographic Museum.
You can get to the castle by minibus from neighboring cities. For a small company, taxi will be an excellent option.
Canina Castle
This castle is located 6 kilometers to the south-east of the city of Vlora . The fortress of Kanin was built in 200 BC. Under Justinian I the fortress walls were fortified. However, later the castle still could not resist the onslaught of the Turks. After the capture of the castle by the Turks, the fortress was gradually dismantled on stones. This was done mainly by local residents, who had nothing to build their own homes. So far only a small part of the fortress has survived.
The castle of Kanin is surrounded by a picturesque area that will not leave a single tourist indifferent. Extensive pastures, a panorama of the city of Vlora, the sea and ancient ruins - that's what awaits you when you visit the fortress.
Lecoures Castle
This is one of the most famous castles in Albania. It is located on a high hill near the city of Saranda . This building was built in the 16th century by Sultan Suleiman to control the port and main roads. Now tourists can explore the ruins of an old castle and taste national dishes at a local restaurant, which is located nearby. The peculiarity of this restaurant is that it was built in the style of the castle itself and of similar materials.
Leger Castle
This castle is very different from all the previous ones in that its architecture reflects the features of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. Special attention is paid to the following castle buildings: mosque, Roman arches and towers.
Albanian medieval castles are an important part of the country's culture, so they should be included in the mandatory program for visiting - you will be satisfied!