The Fortress of Krujë () is a fortress in the city of

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 20 km north of the capital of Albania, Tirana. Krujë was ...

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

and the center of

Skanderbeg Gjergj Kastrioti (17 January 1468), commonly known as Skanderbeg, was an Albanians, Albanian Albanian nobility, feudal lord and military commander who led Skanderbeg's rebellion, a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in what is today Albania, ...

's rebellion against the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

. Inside the fortress is the Teqe of Dollme of the

Bektashi Bektashism (, ) is a tariqa, Sufi order of Islam that evolved in 13th-century western Anatolia and became widespread in the Ottoman Empire. It is named after the wali, ''walī'' "saint" Haji Bektash Veli, with adherents called Bektashis. The ...

(an Islamic Sufi sect), the National

Skanderbeg Museum The National History Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu" (), also known as the Skanderbeg Museum or the Kruja Museum, is located in Krujë and is one of the most important and visited museums in Albania. The museum was built at the end of the 1 ...

, the remains of the '' Fatih Sultan Mehmed mosque'' and its

minaret A minaret is a type of tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques. Minarets are generally used to project the Muslim call to prayer (''adhan'') from a muezzin, but they also served as landmarks and symbols of Islam's presence. They can h ...

, an ethnographic museum and a

Turkish bath A hammam (), also often called a Turkish bath by Westerners, is a type of steam bath or a place of public bathing associated with the Islamic world. It is a prominent feature in the culture of the Muslim world and was inherited from the model ...

History

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 Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

the city was unsuccessfully besieged by

Andrea Thopia Andrea II Thopia (; died before March 1445) was a 15th century Albanian nobleman whose domains included the territory of Scuria (between Durazzo and what would later become modern day Tirana). He was a member of the Thopia family and one of the ...

and Ottoman rule was restored. After

Skanderbeg's rebellion Skanderbeg's rebellion () was an almost 25-year long anti-Ottoman rebellion led by the Albanian military commander Skanderbeg in what is today Albania and its neighboring countries. It was a rare successful instance of resistance by Christians du ...

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 Mehmed II (; , ; 30 March 14323 May 1481), commonly known as Mehmed the Conqueror (; ), was twice the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from August 1444 to September 1446 and then later from February 1451 to May 1481. In Mehmed II's first reign, ...

"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 .

Museums inside the fortress

National Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu"

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.
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The Ethnographic Museum

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.

Legacy

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.Bank of Albania
Currency
Banknotes in circulation
. – Retrieved on 23 March 2009.

References

External links

The story of the Fortress of Krujë
Castles in Albania Buildings and structures in Krujë Tourist attractions in Durrës County Archaeological sites in Albania {{Albania-castle-stub