- Type
- Fortress
- Location
- Gjirokastër, Albania
- Coordinates
- 40.0740°, 20.1410°
History
The oldest walls on the ridge above the Drino valley probably date from the 12th century, and in the 13th–14th centuries the fortress was a seat of local Albanian lords. The Ottomans took it in the early 15th century and made Gjirokastër the seat of a sanjak. The largest expansion came in 1811–1812 under Ali Pasha of Tepelenë, who added the clock tower and new defences and, according to tradition, an aqueduct bringing water from distant mountains. In 1932, under King Zog, a prison was set up inside, later also used by the communist regime. The National Museum of Armaments has occupied the fortress since 1971, and in 2005 the historic town was inscribed on the UNESCO list.
What to see
A long, narrow circuit of walls towers over roofs of stone slabs. Dim vaulted galleries hold guns, tanks and weapons from both world wars, while the courtyard displays an American training jet that landed in Albania in 1957. Visitors can see the cells of the former prison and the clock tower, and the walls give views over the whole town and the Drino valley. The fortress stage hosts the National Folklore Festival.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q636638
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