Lëkurësi Castle () is a ruined

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

near

Sarandë Sarandë (; sq-definite, Saranda; ) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in the Republic of Albania and the seat of Sarandë Municipality. Geographically, the city is located on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea within the Mediterrane ...

, southern

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 ...

. The castle is on a strategic hill point overlooking the town of Sarandë, southeast of the town centre. From here one can control the whole town as well as the islands of Ksamil.

History

Lëkurësi Castle was built in 1537 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of 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 ...

. It was built in order to defend against the Venetians. It held a garrison of 220 soldiers as well. The region traditionally belonged to the southern part of the region of Himara. At the end of the 18th century, the castle was attacked by Ali Pasha of Ioannina and the surrounding habitation raided. Lekursi Castle
/ref> The castle used to withhold the old Lëkurës village. It has a square shape with two round towers on its north-western and south-eastern corners. To climb up to the castle, visitors need to leave the main road on Qafë Gjashtë and go up the town hill from the other side of the town. Today tourist facilities are built next to the castle (restaurant etc.) in similar architectural style.

Gallery

Kalaja e Lekursit 01.JPG Kalaja e Lekursit 02.JPG Lëkurësi Castle, Saranda, Albania 2015-09-25 02.jpg Kalaja e Lekursit 03.JPG Kalaja e Lekursit 04.JPG

References

Buildings and structures completed in 1537 Castles in Albania Buildings and structures in Sarandë 1537 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Tourist attractions in Vlorë County {{Albania-castle-stub

History

Gallery

See also

References