A beautiful view, a sad legend, and an excellent zipline are waiting for you at Petrelë Castle!

Only some 15 kilometers from Tirana, on a cliff 329 meters high above the sea, is the exceptional Petrelë Castle (al: Kalaja e Petrelës).

Its history goes back to the 6th century when it was built by the Eastern Roman emperor Justinian I, known for his work habits as the “emperor who never sleeps“. Although it was first built in ancient times, today’s building dates back to the 15th century.

Petrelë Castle, Photo: ShkelzenRexha, CC BY-SA 4.0

Petrelë Castle was part of Krujë Castle’s signaling and defense system. The castles signaled each other danger and the encroachment of invaders using fire. During Skenderbeg‘s fight against the Ottomans, the castle was under the command of Mamica Kastrioti, Skenderbeg’s sister.

According to one legend, the beautiful girl Elena lived in the castle. She was in love with a young man named Gjergj, who was a soldier. Their love was forbidden because they belonged to different social classes. To meet, Gjergj used a secret passage in the castle. However, one day, Elena disappeared and was never seen again. Legend has it that she is still there, waiting for her beloved Gjergjo to return.

Petrelë Castle, Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

Petrelë Castle can be visited without paying for tickets, every day of the week. After parking your car in the center of the village, you will have to walk to the entrance of the castle to witness the exceptional view it offers of the surroundings.

The castle has a bar and a restaurant, so you can rest and enjoy lunch with a special view, right in this historic place.

One of the more fun things you can do while you’re near the castle is to go down the first Albanian zipline, which is 1,250 meters long.

The start is at a location near the castle, and the end is in the neighboring village of Mulet. Under the zipline, with which you will fly like an Albanian eagle, the Erzeni River flows and offers you an unforgettable experience.