This article lists thecastles andfortifications ofAlbania. There are a total of158 castles and fortifications in the country that have achieved the status ofmonument of cultural heritage. The English equivalent forKala in Albanian isFortress. The latter is most fit for usage to describe many of the below structures as documented by official travel guides.[1][2]
| # | Name | Location | Status | Elevation | Built | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Krujë Castle | Krujë 41°30′25″N19°47′38″E / 41.506944°N 19.793889°E /41.506944; 19.793889 | preserved | 557 m (1,827 ft) | 1190, 1982 | The castle served as the center ofSkanderbeg's rebellion against theOttoman Empire |  |
| 2 | Gjirokastër Fortress | Gjirokastër 40°04′26″N20°08′27″E / 40.073822°N 20.140750°E /40.073822; 20.140750 | preserved | 336 m (1,102 ft) | 12th century, 1812 | The fortress dominates the town ofGjirokastër and overlooks the strategically important route along the river valley. |  |
| 3 | Berat Castle | Berat 40°42′31″N19°56′45″E / 40.708514°N 19.945727°E /40.708514; 19.945727 | preserved | 214 m (702 ft) | 13th century | The castle is built on a rocky hill on the left bank of the riverOsum overlooking the town ofBerat. |  |
| 4 | Rozafa Castle | Shkodër 42°02′47″N19°29′37″E / 42.046468°N 19.493669°E /42.046468; 19.493669 | ruin | 130 m (430 ft) | 4th-3rd century BC | Located on a hilltop and surrounded by the riversBuna andDrin, the castle has been settled sinceantiquity. It was anIllyrian stronghold until it was captured by theRomans in 167 BC. | .JPG) |
| 5 | Ali Pasha Castle | Butrint 39°44′30″N19°59′33″E / 39.741619°N 19.992480°E /39.741619; 19.992480 | preserved | 30 m (98 ft) | 1808 | The castle lies some 2.4 km (1.5 mi) due west at the mouth of theVivari Channel. It was built to prevent the advancement of French forces fromCorfu. |  |
| 6 | Bashtovë Fortress | Vilë-Ballaj 41°02′49″N19°29′47″E / 41.046900°N 19.496500°E /41.046900; 19.496500 | ruin | 0.2 m (7.9 in) | 15th century | Located near the outflow of theShkumbin River into theAdriatic Sea in CentralAlbania, the fortress is part of thetentative list for inclusion in theUNESCOWorld Heritage Site list. |  |
| 7 | Porto Palermo Castle | Himarë 40°03′44″N19°47′27″E / 40.062248°N 19.790703°E /40.062248; 19.790703 | preserved | 113 m (371 ft) | 15th century | The triangular shaped castle is situated in the closed bay ofPorto Palermo, a few kilometers south ofHimarë. |  |
| 8 | Rodoni Castle | Cape of Rodon 41°35′09″N19°26′53″E / 41.585815°N 19.448147°E /41.585815; 19.448147 | ruin | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) | 1452, 1500 | According toMarin Barleti the castle was destroyed byOttoman forces in 1467. In 1500 the castle was rebuilt by theRepublic of Venice. |  |
| 9 | Elbasan Fortress | Elbasan 41°06′47″N20°04′54″E / 41.113188°N 20.081693°E /41.113188; 20.081693 | ruin | 133 m (436 ft) | 15th century | This rectangular shaped fortress houses 12 monuments of cultural heritage within its walls. |  |
| 10 | Tepelenë Castle | Tepelenë 40°17′57″N20°01′17″E / 40.299167°N 20.021483°E /40.299167; 20.021483 | ruin | 190 m (620 ft) | 1819 | The walls of this castle do not form a normal geometric pattern. It once served as the second residence ofAli Pashë Tepelena. |  |
| 11 | Lezhë Castle | Lezhë 41°47′01″N19°39′00″E / 41.783678°N 19.649914°E /41.783678; 19.649914 | ruin | 322 m (1,056 ft) | 9th century | This massive fortification was built on the ruins of ancient Akrolis (Lissus). It was burnt twice in 1478 and 1503 from local residents who tried to push the invading Ottoman armies from settling their military base there. |  |
| 12 | Durrës Castle | Durrës 41°18′38″N19°26′46″E / 41.310530°N 19.446060°E /41.310530; 19.446060 | preserved | 3.3 m (11 ft) | 5th century | The castle was built by theByzantine EmperorAnastasius I (r. 491–518), who was born inDurrës. |  |
| 13 | Petrelë Castle | Petrelë 41°15′17″N19°51′15″E / 41.254795°N 19.854176°E /41.254795; 19.854176 | preserved | 329 m (1,079 ft) | 6th century | Perched on a rocky hill, above the village with the same name, the castle has a triangular shape with two observation towers. |  |
| 14 | Prezë Castle | Prezë 41°25′53″N19°40′20″E / 41.431477°N 19.672327°E /41.431477; 19.672327 | preserved | 253 m (830 ft) | 550s | Located on a hilltop in the village ofPrezë, the castle once belonged to the feudalThopia family which ruled the region. |  |
| 15 | Lëkurësi Castle | Sarandë 39°51′57″N20°01′33″E / 39.865875°N 20.025714°E /39.865875; 20.025714 | ruin | 246 m (807 ft) | 1537 | The castle of Lëkurës was built by SultanSuleiman the Magnificent who had attackedCorfu and needed to control the harbor ofSaranda and the road that connected it withButrint. |  |
| 16 | Libohovë Castle | Libohovë 40°01′53″N20°15′56″E / 40.031393°N 20.265551°E /40.031393; 20.265551 | preserved | 455 m (1,493 ft) | 1798 | The castle was a present byAli Pasha to his sister Shanisha, who was born inLibohovë. |  |
| 17 | Ishëm Castle | Ishëm 41°32′21″N19°35′44″E / 41.539281°N 19.595598°E /41.539281; 19.595598 | ruin | 204 m (669 ft) | 1574 | Located near the riverIshëm, the castle was built by theOttomans to stop the peasant rebellions. |  |
| 18 | Delvinë Castle | Delvinë 39°56′49″N20°05′27″E / 39.946833°N 20.090722°E /39.946833; 20.090722 | ruin | 221 m (725 ft) | 14th century | The castle, in the shape of an ellipse, whose protective walls surround a steep rocky hill about 60 meters long and 30 meters wide, played a strategic role in closing the Delvina basin and the Rëzomë area for passage to theDrinos valley. |  |
| 19 | Borsh Castle | Borsh 40°04′12″N19°51′22″E / 40.069870°N 19.856091°E /40.069870; 19.856091 | ruin | 287 m (942 ft) | 4th century BCE | Historically known as the Castle of Sopot by the name of the hill on which it is located, the castle was heavily damaged during the barbarian invasions of the fifth and sixth centuries AD, and it was rebuilt in the Middle Ages at which time it took its present name. |  |
| 20 | Kaninë Castle | Kaninë 40°26′40″N19°31′17″E / 40.444566°N 19.521313°E /40.444566; 19.521313 | ruin | 325 m (1,066 ft) | 6th century | During the 13th and 14th centuries, the castle turned into a first-class military center, serving theKingdom of Albania. It was later remodeled bySuleiman the Magnificent in 1530 and recently by the Albanian feudalists of Vlorë in the 17th and 19th centuries. |  |
| 21 | Venetian Acropolis Castle | Butrint 39°44′46″N20°01′12″E / 39.746108°N 20.019950°E /39.746108; 20.019950 | Preserved | 253 m (830 ft) | 14th century | In 1386 theVenetians purchased the land aroundButrint from theAngevins. The castle was built in the 14th century on the highest point on the peninsula. |  |
