Krujë Castle

Castle in Krujë

Kruje From Kruje Castle — CC BY-SA 4.0 / Avi1111

Kruje Castle Mosque — CC BY-SA 4.0 / Avi1111

Skanderbeg Muesum In Kruja — Flickr / jjmusgrove

Kruje Castle Walls — CC BY-SA 4.0 / Imfishy

Krujë Castle is a castle which looks over the town of Krujë, and was built in the 5th or 6th century.

During the early period of Ottoman rule in Albania the local populace rebelled and in 1432–36 and there were a series of clashes between Albanian and the Ottoman rulers. Krujë Castle was held by the Ottomans during this period and it survived a seige led by Andrea Thopia.

In 1443 Gjergj Kastrioti, known as Skanderbeg the “Dragon of Albania” led another rebellion. He was a an Albanian nobleman and military commander who had spent time in the Ottoman court as a hostage. Under his command, the elliptical fortress, with no greater than 3,000 garrisoned troops to defend it survived three major sieges from the forces of Mehmed II, in 1450, 1466 and 1467. Thanks to his high position 550 metres above sea level, it became possible to communicate from there with other castles of the country using light / fire signs.

Skanderbeg fell ill with malaria and died on 17 January 1468. Eventually the last Christian fortress that fell before the pressure of the Ottoman army 10 years after the death of Skanderbeg.

There is a museum devoted to Skanderbeg and the struggle for the independence inside the castle. The castle is depicted on the reverse side of the Albanian banknote of 1,000 lek in 1992-1996 and on the banknote of 5,000 lek, issued since 1996.

There are 2 Museums in the castle, the National Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu” and the The Ethnographic Museum.

The Krujë Castle appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Krujë!

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