Travel to Kruje in Albania. Kruje, also Kruja in English, is a city in Albania just north of Tirana. Krujë itself is a small city situated approximately 31 kilometers (20 miles) north of the capital city of Tirana and is a place rich in history. While the region has been populated since the 3rd century B.C, it was also home to the eponymous Alban tribe as well as Gjergj Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania. Kruja has a long list of attractions to offer tourists from the ancient castle nestled in the craggy rocks, two museums, stunning views, a nearby national park, sacred temples, natural springs, the ancient city ruins of Albanopolis, and the old bazaar.

There are many buses to Kruje from Tirana. They depart from the road right next to the municipal building in the city center. Kruje is small enough to get around on foot very easily. It is built on a mountainside, with the one-street bazaar the central attraction, and the renovated castle just above and to the south.

Kruje Castle is located at the top of a craggy mountain 680 meters (2,230 feet) above sea level. From the castle there is a broad view that spans from Mount Tomori in the south to Ulcinj in the north with views of the Adriatic coast throughout.

The castle features an arched tunnel as its entrance and once inside you can find castle remnants, the watch tower, two museums, restaurants, and homes that are still occupied to this dayOld Bazaar The Old Bazaar of Kruja dates to the 17th century and is known by the locals as Derexhiku.

It was built approximately 400 years ago and had about 200 shops starting from neat Kruja City Hall to the entrance gates of Kruja Castle. The first shops are thought to have started next to the castle entrance and over the years the shops expanded towards what is now the center of town. The shops line the street on both sides creating roads of roof-covered storefronts whose sloping roofs create an arcade along its length.

The main crafts and trades in these shops have been leather working, silk, kitchen utensils, furniture, tailoring, pottery, carpentry, cafes, wood carving, butchers, barbers, shoemakers, blacksmiths, and wool workers. In the Old Bazaar today you can find objects and handmade items from traditional artisans as well as antiques collected from Kruja and the surrounding areas.

Cave of Sari Salltëku

The cave of Sari Salltëku is located at the top of Mount Krujë and is considered sacred within the Bektashi faith.Skanderbeg Monument In the center of town is a monument for the national hero, Gjergj KastriotiSkanderbeg. The statue was erected on November 28, 1959 and was designed by sculptor Pascal Odysseus.

It was officially declared to be a national culturalmonument in 1963. The statue depicts Skanderbeg charging into war atop hisstallion with sword drawn. Albanopolis is an Illyrain city and the capital city of the Albans, an Illyrian tribe which used to live in the zone. It is located in the village of Zgerdhesh, 5km away from Fushe-Kruja.

It is thought that Albanopoli is the city from which Albania and the Albanians inherited this name.Some beautiful carpets, hand-made felt items such as slippers, antiques including traditional costumes of all sorts, and lots of more or less kitsch “Albania” red paraphernalia with the eagle on it.

The bus station to get back to Tirana is located East of the Grand Hotel on Donika Kastrioti street near the street split. There are buses going directly to Tirana and buses going down to Fushe-Kruje.

Airport: Travel to Capital City Tirana (Tirane) Cities in Albania

Country: Albania