Fortress of Krujë
| Krujë Fortress Kalaja e Krujës | |
|---|---|
| Krujë, Albania | |
| File:Kalaja e Krujes 8.jpg Krujë Fortress seen from a distance | |
| Site information | |
| Owner | File:Flag of Albania.svg Albania |
| Controlled by | File:Byzantine imperial flag, 14th century.svg Byzantine Empire File:Gëziq eagle emblem.svg Principality of Arbanon File:Arms of Jean dAnjou.svg Kingdom of Albania File:Stema e Karl Topisë.png Principality of Albania File:Coat of arms of the House of Kastrioti.svg Principality of Kastrioti File:Coat of arms of the House of Kastrioti.svg League of Lezhë File:Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844–1922).svg Ottoman Empire File:Flag of Albania.svg Albania |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Location | |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value. | |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Site history | |
| Built | 5th Century |
| Battles/wars | |
.svg){kind=link}
The Fortress of Krujë (Albanian: Kalaja e Krujës) is a fortress in the city of Krujë, Albania and the center of Skanderbeg's rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. Inside the fortress is the Teqe of Dollme of the Bektashi (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.
History
[edit | edit source]
Krujë fortress was built in the 5th or 6th century, perched above the city with the same name as today. During the Albanian Revolt of 1432-1436 the city was unsuccessfully besieged by Andrea Thopia and Ottoman rule was restored. After Skanderbeg's rebellion in 1443 the fortress withstood three massive sieges from the Turks respectively in 1450, 1466 and 1467 with garrisons usually no larger than 2,000-3,000 men under Skanderbeg's command. Mehmed II "The Conqueror" himself could not break the fortress' small defenses until 1478, 10 years after the death of Skanderbeg. Today it is a center of tourism in Albania, and a source of inspiration to Albanians. Krujë Fortress is situated at an elevation of 557 metres (1,827 ft).[1] [2]
Museums inside the fortress
[edit | edit source]National Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu"
[edit | edit source]
The Albanian people are identified with the history of Kruje Fortress. This fortress is one of the most visited places in Albania. Within the fortress is located one of the main attractions, the National Museum "George Castroti Skanderbeg" (Muzeu Kombetar "Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu" in Albanian). This museum was built in early 1980s by architects Pranvera Masha and Pirro Vaso. Inside the museum a lot of original bibliography, documents, objects and authentic reproductions that represent the history of Albanian people in the fifteenth century are displayed. This museum has become an icon of the city's skyline.[3]
The Ethnographic Museum
[edit | edit source]Another attraction for tourists is the Ethnographic Museum, located in the south side of Krujë Fortress. This museum is designed based on a typical house of 19th century. It reveals the sustainable methods of tools, food, drink and furniture production in a typical household. There are also objects and old wood and metal supplies that represent the lifestyle back then in the fortress.[4]
Legacy
[edit | edit source]The fortress is depicted on the reverse of the Albanian 1000 lekë banknote of 1992–1996, and of the 5000 lekë banknote issued since 1996.[5]
See also
[edit | edit source]- Krujë Watchtower
- List of castles in Albania
- Tourism in Albania
- Albanoi
- History of Albania
- Skanderbeg Museum
- Illyrians
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Krujë Fortress Altitude and Location
- ^ Kruje Fortress
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Bank of Albania. Currency: Banknotes in circulation Archived February 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. – Retrieved on 23 March 2009.