Rozafa Castle in Shkodër continues to attract growing numbers of local and international visitors.

Prime Minister Edi Rama described the fortress as one of the country’s most visited historical heritage treasures and shared images on social media showing the site filled with tourists.

Rozafa Castle stands on a rocky hill west of Shkodër. The Drin, Buna and Kiri rivers surround the hill and add to the site’s distinctive landscape.

The castle walls preserve traces of four major historical periods. These include the Balsha dynasty in the 14th century, Venetian rule in the 15th century, Ottoman rule in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the Bushati period in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The castle dates back to the Illyrian period. Its history also connects with the legend of Rozafa, which tells the story of a woman who kept a sacred promise and embodies the traditional concept of “Besa.”

Historical sources first mention the site as an Illyrian fortified center during the reign of King Gentius. The fortress later took the name Rozafa during the medieval period. Over the centuries, Slavic and Byzantine forces captured the castle at different times.

Inside the walls, visitors can explore the remains of garrisons, storage facilities and an administrative building. Three courtyards divide the interior, while walls and gates connect the different sections.

The castle also preserves several important cultural landmarks. These include 15th-century water cisterns and a 13th-century cathedral, which Ottoman forces later converted into a mosque.

In addition, the Rozafa Museum documents the castle’s different historical periods and helps visitors understand the site’s role throughout Albania’s past.

Today, the combination of archaeological remains, architecture, legends and panoramic views continues to make Rozafa Castle a major destination for visitors exploring Albania’s historical heritage.

/a.c/