Berat Castle
Kalaja e Beratit
An ancient hilltop fortress that is still inhabited, with stone-paved lanes, Byzantine churches, and mosque ruins inside its walls, and views over the Osum River valley.
Berat Castle sits on a limestone hill on the north bank of the Osum River. Its surviving walls were mostly built in the 13th century during the Byzantine period. People still live inside, and stone-paved lanes are lined with white Ottoman-style houses. Within the castle you can visit the Dormition of the Virgin Cathedral (home to the Onufri Museum), the Church of the Holy Trinity, the ruins of the Red Mosque, and the cisterns. The lookout at the western end of the castle offers views over both Mangalem and Gorica at once. The walk up the steep slope from the old town takes about 20 minutes, and there is a small admission fee. The stone paths are slippery, so wear non-slip shoes.
Opening hours
All day (in-town sights open during the day)
Nearby sights
- Onufri Iconographic Museum
- Holy Trinity Church, Berat
- St. Michael's Church, Berat
- Ethnographic Museum of Berat
- Mangalem Quarter
- Gorica Bridge
- Bachelors' Mosque
- Gorica Quarter