Located approximately 45 minutes north of Tirana lies the town of Kruja, the center of the Albanian resistance against the Ottomans. This historic picturesque town is situated on a hill in the mountains, and is the birthplace of Albania’s national hero, Skanderbeg, who successfully fought the Ottoman invasion for more than two decades.
Exploring the original buildings and the old bazaar will allow you to move into the past. The Kruja Castle withstood three Ottoman sieges led by Sultan Murat and later by his son, Sultan Mehmed II – the conqueror of Constantinople (now Istanbul). It was only after Skanderbeg’s death that the fortress finally fell, and the Albanian resistance was suppressed.
For custom luxury travel and tours to Kruja, please contact one of our travel experts, or read on below for more information about where to go and when, along with our Insider's Guide.