Gjirokastër Castle
Kalaja e Gjirokastrës
A UNESCO World Heritage fortress on top of the stone city, with a military museum, a clock tower, a US military aircraft that was shot down, and views over the Drino Valley.
Gjirokastër Castle is one of Albania's largest fortresses. It was first built in the 12th century, greatly expanded in the 19th century by Ali Pasha, and later used as a prison. Inside the castle, you will find a weapons museum with artillery and tanks from World War II through the Cold War, the wreckage of a US Air Force aircraft forced to land in 1957, a clock tower and an open-air stage used for the national folklore festival. The views from the walls are excellent, looking down over the city's slate roofs and the Drino Valley. Admission is about 400–700 lek. Gjirokastër is about 55 km from Sarandë, roughly a 1-hour drive, and buses run between them.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–19:00 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Gjirokastër Cold War Tunnel
- Gjirokastër Old Bazaar
- Bazaar Mosque, Gjirokastër
- Ismail Kadare House
- Skënduli House
- Ethnographic Museum of Gjirokastër
- Zekate House
- Viroi Lake