Rosafa Fortress

The Rosafa fortress in Shkodra was built at the beginning of the XIV century. Originally there was one arch, which was located on a hill. It had the shape of an irregular triangle. Later, during Ottoman rule, this arch was destroyed and another was erected in its place. In the XV century the castle was completed. Its towers were decorated with stone carvings. In the XVI century, the fortress was taken by the Ottomans, who rebuilt its main buildings from stone. In the XVII century it was restored under the Albanian ruler George II. The fortress of Rosaf was owned by the Ottoman Empire, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Bulgaria. From the side of the fortress there is a magnificent view of the city of Shkodra. It was from here that its inhabitants watched large maneuvers of Bulgarian troops take place on Lake Shkodra in 1912.

Today, this castle is one of the main tourist attractions of Albania. Tourists here meet a huge number of different statues, tapestries and monuments. The fortress is located within the city of Shkoder.

It can be reached from the city of Tirana and from the cities of Durres and Vlora by buses and taxis. From the bus station of the Old Town of Shkodera to the fortress of Rosafa there is a bus No. 2. Travel time is 40 minutes.