Kruja - Castle

In the early Middle Ages, Kruja developed from a medium-sized castle settlement into an urban centre, which had a bishopric in the 9th century. In 1190, Kruja became the capital of the first Albanian state in the Middle Ages, the Principality of Arbër.

Later it was the capital of the Kingdom of Albania. Kruja was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the early 15th century, but then reconquered by Skanderbeg in 1443, who defended it against three Ottoman sieges until his death in 1468. It finally fell after a fourth siege in 1478, 10 years after Skanderbeg's death.

The castle, originally built in the 5th or 6th century, is perched above the city. It is ruined but the Skanderberg Mudeum was built in the old castle area.