Paleokastrë Castle

Paleokastrë Castle, locally known as Kalaja e Paleokastrës, lies north of the village of Palokastër, in the county of Gjirokastër in Albania.

Paleokastrë Castle was actually a Roman castrum. It was built in the late 3rd or early 4th century on a strategic location; on a river terrace at the confluence of the Drino and Kardhiq rivers. The castle was destroyed in 378 by invading Goths.

The castle was later rebuilt during the 5th century. It was inhabited until around the 6th century.

The site was archaeologically excavated in the 1970s, during which the foundations of 2 churches, dating back to the 5th/6th century, were uncovered.

Paleokastrë Castle is freely accessible. There may not be very much to see, but I liked its solitary location in the fields next to the rivers.

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