Prezë Castle

Prezë Castle
Kalaja e Prezës
Prezë Albania
Prezë Castle
Coordinates	41.431°N 19.672°E / 41.431; 19.672
Type	Castle
Site information
Owner	Albania
Controlled by	Byzantine Empire Principality of Arbanon Kingdom of Albania Principality of Albania Principality of Kastrioti League of Lezhë Ottoman Empire Albania
Open to the public	Yes
Site history
Built	550
Built by	Justinian I
Materials	Stone
Garrison information
Current commander	Njesia Administrative Prezë

Planimetry of Prezë Castle

Image of the Castle from the West Tower

The Prezë Castle (Albanian: Kalaja e Prezës) is a medieval castle in Prezë, Albania.

Preza Castle was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great in the 550s.

The castle overlooks the village with the same name and is located on a hilltop. The castle was enlarged by a construction which started in the 14th century and was completed in the early 15th century and belonged to the Thopias, a local Albanian feudal family. During 1443-1468 it was one of the core strongholds of the Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire led by Skanderbeg.

The castle has been declared a 'monument of culture'. It has four towers, one in each corner. The clock tower was erected around 1800–50. It is known for its beautiful location, overlooking the Tirana plain. The castle is quite close to the Mother Teresa International Airport. A restaurant named Kalaja E Prezës and other service facilities are found inside the castle.

See also

• List of castles in Albania
• Tourism in Albania
• Landmarks in Tirana
• Architecture of Albania