Rich in history and tradition, Kruja is home of the patriots and the epicenter of Albania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire. It was here that Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, Albania’s greatest national hero, defended the country from the invasion of the Ottomans. The National Museum dedicated to the hero is housed in the famous Kruja Castle and shows both the legendary hero’s history and the traditional way of life of the city’s population. The city’s famous bazaar serves as a bridge between this glorious past and the present, offering a rich array of traditional products made from local artisans. Home to one of the spiritual centers of the country, that of Sarisalltik, Kruja is a crucial destination for every local and visitor!
Krujë Castle houses also the famous “Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu National Museum” which exhibits a collection dedicated to the hero’s life and wars against the Ottomans. The museum reveals how Kruja under Skanderbeg guidance became a symbol of national resistance, as it is perceived to this very day. Here you’ll find also copies of Skanderbeg’s weapons: the famous helmet topped with a goat’s head and his sword.
Among the ruins within the castle walls stands the Old Clock Tower, with the same bell that once rung to announce the death of Skanderbeg. This clock, crafted by artisans of the Old Bazaar of Krujë, once coordinated the city’s time: such as the opening and closing hours of the shops, as well as the times of prayer. Near the clock tower stands the National Museum “Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu”, designed by Pirro Vaso and Pranvera Hoxha, part of the architectural team who designed the Pyramid of Tirana. Built in the early 1980s, crowning the castle walls, this recognisable museum structure has become an icon of this city’s skyline. Inside, the exhibits reveal insights into Skanderbeg’s life, his historical victories and achievements, as well as copies of Skanderbeg’s weapons: his recognisable helmet crowned with a goat’s head, and his sword.
Facing the museum, there are the beautiful ruins of a former church, transformed into Sultan Mehmed Fatih’s mosque following the Ottoman occupation. South of the castle, the Ethnographic Museum, housed in a typical 19th-century house, reveals the sustainable methods of food, drink, tools, and furniture production in a typical household, as well as the customs of life in the castle. The Masjid of Dollma is yet another beautiful monument, the pulpit of Muslim faith during the 18th century. Right next to it, the castle’s Turkish bath (hammam) reveals its gorgeous 15th century roof. The 450-year-old Grand Bazaar of Krujë is located on the road heading towards the castle. In its heyday, this bazaar had more than 150 merchants who supplied the castle’s inhabitants. Now, the bazaar sells traditional handmade objects and souvenirs, keeping the legacy of fine craftsmanship alive. The sights are endless in this small yet significant city, symbols of a country’s bravery and persistence throughout the centuries.