Rozafa Fortress is located above the city of Shkoder on a steep hill. It is an excellent vantage point to the city, Skadar Lake and the North Albanian Mountains. Large fragments of the defensive walls and towers, as well as the ruins of the former church of Saint Stephen, turned into a mosque during the Turkish rule.
The fortress was built in the 3rd century BC, but owes its present shape to the reconstruction carried out by the Venetians in the Middle Ages. During the Turkish rule, the army was stationed here, and the fortress last performed combat tasks in 1913, during the Balkan war. Since then, it has deteriorated and is now a tourist attraction.
It is an irregularly shaped building. Currently, mainly external walls have survived. The most impressive structure in the fortress is the nave and tower of the cathedral of Saint Stephen. In the preserved rooms of the castle there is a small historical exhibition presenting weapons and objects found during archeological works. There is also a cafe decorated in the style of a former Albanian house.
Attractions inside
