The National History Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu" ( sq, Muzeu Historik Kombëtar "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"), also known as the Skanderbeg Museum or the Kruja Museum, is located in

Krujë Krujë ( sq-definite, Kruja; see also the etymology section) is a town and a municipality in north central Albania. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is only 20 km north from the capital of Albania, Tirana. Kru ...

and is one of the most important and visited museums in

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and share ...

. The museum was built at the end of the 1970s and was inaugurated on November 1, 1982. Its architecture was designed by architects

Pirro Vaso Pirro Vaso is an Albanian architect. Born on August 25, 1948 in Tirana, Albania, Vaso is one of the principal architects of the Skanderbeg Museum in Krujë (1982) and of the Pyramid of Tirana (1988). For both of these, Vaso was awarded with the ...

and Pranvera Hoxha. Construction works were realized by a local team managed by Robert Kote. The museum has the character of a memorial, architecturally inspired by traditional Albanian stone towers and medieval Romanesque architecture. The name of the museum is in the honor of the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbej. The Krujë Castle, which houses the museum, is a historic citadel. Ottoman troops attacked it thrice, in 1450, 1466 and 1467, but failed to take control until a fourth siege in 1476. It was this impregnable fortress that helped George Kastrioti Skanderbeg defend Albania from the Ottoman invasion for more than two decades.

Building

The Skanderbeg Museum project was based on the conceptual platform designed by

Aleks Buda Aleks Buda (7 September 1910 – 7 July 1993) was an Albanian historian. After completion of his education in Italy and Austria, he returned to Albania. Although his education was in literature, he made a career as a historian during the socialist ...

in September 1976, which was sent as a design assignment to the Institute of Studies and Projets (ISP) No.1 Tirana, under the direction of architect

. After reviewing three variants, the ISP decided to continue the work on designing a building based on these variants and decided that the site where the museum would be built was in the interior of the walls of the old Kruja Castle. The design team consisted of

, Pranvera Hoxha, F.Stermasi, K.Meka, L.Gashi, Gjarçani and R.Agalliu, who designed a building which would be stylistic to the Albanian medieval towers, mainly built in northern Albania. After the museum's draft idea was approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the ISP working group started work on the project implementation of this work. The works for the construction of the museum began in September 1978 and they were directed by Robert Kote. In March 1980, the Ministry of Education and Culture set up two working groups for the preparation of the museum content model, pavilions, mural paintings, and so on. The group of historians led by professor Kristo Frasheri and the group of painters led by Bashkim Ahmeti completed this design in the end of 1980. On 1 November 1982, the museum opened to the public.

Exhibits

The museum contains objects dating back to Skanderbeg's time. The exhibits have been arranged in a way that chronicles his life and military feats. Paintings, armor, and other artifacts dating back to his time have been exhibited to showcase one of the proudest periods of Albanian history. An interesting display is the replica of the hero's famous goat head-topped helmet, the original of which is on display at the

Kunsthistorisches Museum The Kunsthistorisches Museum ( "Museum of Art History", often referred to as the "Museum of Fine Arts") is an art museum in Vienna, Austria. Housed in its festive palatial building on the Vienna Ring Road, it is crowned with an octagonal d ...

. The memorial building was designed by

and Pranvera Hoxha.

Gallery

File:Kalaja ne Kruje.jpg, The National Museum "Gergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu" at the Krujë Castle File:Kalaja e Krujës 02.jpg, Medieval cannons File:Skanderbeg Museum (2).JPG, Front entrance of the museum File:Skanderbeg and his warriors in skanderbeg museum, Kruje.JPG,

Skanderbeg , reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468 , predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti , successor = Gjon Kastrioti II , spouse = Donika Arianiti , issue = Gjon Kastrioti II , royal house = Kastrioti , father ...

and his warriors inside the museum File:Museo Skanderbeg, Kruja, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 06.jpg, The rear entrance of the museum File:Museo Skanderbeg, Kruja, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 01.jpg, Museum exterior File:Kruje_Albania_(3940022678).jpg, A mural File:Skanderbeg_Museum_(4).JPG, A quote of Skanderbeg File:Sculpture_of_Mamica_Kastrioti_in_Skanderbeg_Museum.JPG, A sculpture of

Mamica Kastrioti The House of Kastrioti ( sq, Dera e Kastriotëve) was an Albanian noble family, active in the 14th and 15th centuries as the rulers of the Principality of Kastrioti. At the beginning of the 15th century, the family controlled a territory in the ...

References

External links

Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skanderbeg Museum H History museums in Albania Biographical museums in Europe

Museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make th ...

Buildings and structures in Krujë Tourist attractions in Durrës County

Building

Exhibits

Gallery

See also

References

External links