Petrelë Castle rises on a rocky hill in the southeast of the plain of Tirana, in the administrative territory of Petrelë municipality.
It is a medieval fortress built in the time of Byzantium. Raised on a rather steep terrain, from where you can see all of Tirana. It was one of the forts in the most strategic position for Gjergj Kastrioti, as it controlled one of the main arteries of movement, Egnatia Street.
In this period, the castle was commanded by Skenderbeu’s sister, Mamica, who with her family and bodyguards took care of the functioning of the castle.
Its first construction belongs to the period of antiquity, archaeologists date it to the III-IV century BC, based on the ceramics of the Roman period.
While today’s form dates back to the 15th century. From the entrance to the tower you can see materials, stones, tools, war weapons and vessels from the Middle Ages. It is about a collection of finds that have been able to withstand time and today can be visited closely.
According to the manuscripts, it is said that in the 15th century, Petrela was the first Castle after Kruja, which was besieged and liberated by Skenderbeu. And, it was one of the centers that faced the Ottoman invasion, until the last years of Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu’s life.
This fort was also part of the signaling and defense system of the Kruja fort. These communicated with each other through fires. During the XV century, the castle was occupied by the Turks and then it was liberated by Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu.
Beautiful and intact, the historic Petrela Castle, even though it has undergone numerous attacks during the wars, it still stands against the beautiful nature of Albania. This castle is considered among the oldest in the entire Albanian territory.
