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Castles in Albania

23 landmarks in the Castlemap atlas — every one mapped with a photo and its story, 18 with sourced founding dates, ranked by Wikipedia coverage and real readership.

The most famous castle in Albania is Rozafa Fortress, ranked #378 of 7,738 in the world — followed by Berat Castle and Krujë Fortress.

The Castlemap atlas charts 3 castles, 14 fortresses and 6 ruins in Albania. They span more than 23 centuries — from Pogradec Fortress (founded c. 450 BC) to Burgajet Castle (c. 1860). Every one is plotted with its photo and story on the interactive castle map of Albania.

Map of castles in Albania

On the map they cluster thickest around Durrës — 16 within a 100 km day trip, then Tirana (16) and Shkodër (12). The northernmost is Drisht Castle, the southernmost Vivari Fortress — about 267 km apart.

Planning a visit? Day-trip guides: Castles near Tirana · Castles near Shkodër · Castles near Durrës · Castles near Vlorë.

See them on the map →

When they were built

Of the 23 landmarks mapped in Albania, 18 carry a sourced founding date. Most were founded in the 6th century — 4 of them. 12 predate 1500 and 4 were built after 1700.

All 23 castles in Albania

Rozafa Fortress
Ruin · 15th century · #378 worldwide · #1 in Albania
Rozafa Castle or Shkodër Castle is a castle in the city of Shkodër, in northwestern Albania.
Berat Castle
Fortress · 13th century · #2 in Albania
Berat Castle, also referred to as the Citadel of Berat and castle quarter, is a fortress overlooking the town of Berat, Albania.
Krujë Fortress
Fortress · 6th century · #3 in Albania
The Fortress of Krujë is a fortress in the city of Krujë, Albania and the center of Skanderbeg's rebellion against the Ottoman Empire.
Gjirokastër Fortress
Fortress · #4 in Albania
Gjirokastër Castle is a fortress in Gjirokastër, Albania which also includes a Bektashi tyrbe.
Porto Palermo Fortress
Fortress · 19th century · #5 in Albania
Porto Palermo Castle is an Ottoman castle near Himarë in southern Albania. It is situated in the bay of Porto Palermo, a few kilometers south of…
Bashtovë Fortress
Ruin · 6th century · #6 in Albania
The Fortress of Bashtovë, also known in medieval times as Breg, Briego or Vrego is a medieval quadrangular fortress located close to the outflow of…
Petrelë Fortress
Fortress · 6th century · #7 in Albania
Petrelë Castle is a castle in Petrelë, central Albania. Its history dates back to the 6th century, when it was built by the Byzantine emperor…
Vivari Fortress
Fortress · 18th century · #8 in Albania
Ali Pasha Castle is a castle in Albania. It is named after Ali Pasha of Tepelenë who resided there until 1820.
Kanina Fortress
Fortress · 3rd century BC · #9 in Albania
Kaninë Castle is a castle in the village Kaninë near Vlorë, in southwestern Albania.
Burgajet Castle
Castle · 19th century · #10 in Albania
Buragajet Castle, or Castle Burgajeti, was a large fortified house, located in Burgajet in northern Mat, Albania.
Durrës Castle
Castle · 5th century · #11 in Albania
Durrës Castle is the fortified old city of Durrës, Albania. It is enclosed by city walls built in the late 5th century, and repaired and reinforced…
Justinian Fortress
Fortress · 13th century · #12 in Albania
Fortress of Justinian or simply known as Tirana Castle is a castle in Tirana, Albania.
Lëkurësi Fortress
Ruin · 16th century · #13 in Albania
Lëkurësi Castle is a ruined Ottoman Turkish castle near Sarandë, southern Albania.
Lezhë Castle
Ruin · #14 in Albania
The Lezhë Castle is a castle dominating the city of Lezhë, northern Albania. Its highest point is 186 metres.
Drisht Castle
Ruin · 10th century · #15 in Albania
Drisht Castle is a ruined castle above the modern Albanian village of Drisht, medieval Drivastum, in the municipal unit Postribë, Shkodër County,…
Rodoni Fortress
Fortress · 15th century · #16 in Albania
The Rodoni Castle or Skanderbeg Castle is a castle in Albania. Rodoni Castle is at an elevation of 1 metre. Rodoni Castle is on the Cape of Rodon.
Pogradec Fortress
Ruin · 5th century BC · #17 in Albania
Pogradec Castle is a ruined castle in Pogradec, eastern Albania. At its highest point, it stands 205 metres above Lake Ohrid.
Prezë Fortress
Fortress · 6th century · #18 in Albania
The Prezë Castle is a medieval castle in Prezë, Albania. The mosque inside the castle, built in the 1500s, is one of the oldest mosques in Albania.
Borsh Fortress
Fortress · #19 in Albania
Borsh Castle also known as Sopot Castle from the hill it is located, is a historic castle near the village Borsh, Albania, near the coast of the…
Dagnum
Fortress · #20 in Albania
Dagnum was a town, bishopric and important medieval fortress located on the territory of present-day Albania, which has been under Albanian, Serbian,…
Libohovë Fortress
Fortress · 18th century · #21 in Albania
Libohovë Castle is an Ottoman-era castle in Libohovë, Gjirokastër county, southern Albania.
Ishëm Fortress
Fortress · 16th century · #22 in Albania
Ishëm Castle is a castle in Ishëm, Durrës County, Albania. It is located on a hill above the river Ishëm.
Tomornitsa
Castle · #23 in Albania
Tomornitsa, also known by the Bulgarian names Koprinista and Pronista, is an ancient fortress and an ex post facto Bulgarian fortress.

Frequently asked questions

How many castles are in Albania?

The Castlemap atlas maps 23 landmarks (3 castles · 14 fortresses · 6 ruins) in Albania — a curated selection of well-documented landmarks from Wikidata, not a count of every fortification ever built.

What is the most famous castle in Albania?

Rozafa Fortress, ranked #378 of 7,738 worldwide in the atlas's fame ranking, founded in the 15th century.

What is the oldest castle in Albania?

The oldest dated landmark in the atlas in Albania is Pogradec Fortress, founded c. 450 BC. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

Where are most of the castles in Albania?

They cluster thickest around Durrës — 16 of the atlas's landmarks within 100 km, then Tirana (16) and Shkodër (12).