Kruja Castle in Albania Among Top 10 Mystic Castles to Visit in Europe

The 5th Century Castle of Kruja and symbol of Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire has been listed by Skyscanner magazine as one the top 10 mystic castles to visit in Europe.

Located in Albania in the small city of Krujë at a height of 557m, the Castle of Kruja was built in the V-VI centuries and oversees the old city of Kruja which served as the center of the first feudal Albanian principality in 1190 and later was subject to several sieges. Today it is one of the ‘must-do’ touristic spots of Albania.

During the Albanian Revolt of 1432-1436 in the early period of Ottoman rule in the region, the city was unsuccessfully besieged by Albanian noble Andrea Topia.

In November 1443, the Castle of Kruja was successfully taken by Gjergj Kastrioti ‘Skanderbeg’ who later united the Albanian nobles and large families in an unprecedented resistance to the Ottoman Empire, with Kruja being the administrative and military center of the Albanian leadership. In the 15^th Century the Castle withstood three massive sieges from the Ottomans.

*Return of Scanderbeg by Guri Madhi Oil on canvas, 230 cm x 201 cm, painted in 1967, family’s collection*

Skanderbeg is largely celebrated as the national hero of Albanians and it is thanks to him that Albanians boast one of the oldest flags in the world.

Today, the Castle keeps the ‘Teqe of Dollme’ of the Bektashi Order (an Islamic Sufi sect), the National Skanderbeg Museum, the remains of the Fatih Sultan Mehmed mosque and its minaret, an ethnographic museum and a Turkish bath. Numereous tourist groups from around the world visit the Castle and the Kruja medieval market street on a daily basis.

Top 10 secret castles as listed by Skyscanner Magazine