Tepelenë Castle

Tepelenë Castle, locally known as Kalaja e Tepelenës, lies in the town of the same name, in the county of Gjirokastër in Albania.

Tepelenë Castle is situated on a strategic point; a hill near the confluence of the Drino and Vjosë rivers. A castle here was first mentioned in 1482, when it was visited by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II. That castle was most probably of Byzantine origin, dating back to the 7th century. Ten years later, in 1492, Albanian and Venetian insurgents had sought refuge in that castle, which was then destroyed by the Ottomans. The Ottomans then built a new small garrison castle near the earlier fortification, using its ruins as building material.

In 1670 the Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi described the settlement and castle of Tepelenë as being in a rather desolate condition, with no facilities like a hammam, nor a caravanserai, nor religious schools. He also mentioned that the castle had a garrison of around 100 soldiers and that the villages around Tepelenë had a rather rebellious stance against the Sultan.

Tepelenë was also the birthplace of Ali Pasha of Ioannina, an Albanian ruler who ruled as a very autonomous and quasi-independent Ottoman pasha. He is therefore also known as Ali Pasha of Tepelenë.

Ali Pasha took control of Tepelenë in 1789. He then had the present fortress constructed in the first 2 decades of the 19th century. His new castle encompassed the older Ottoman castle, which was turned into a mere warehouse. As Tepelenë was one of his 2 headquarters, together with Ioannina, Ali Pasha also had a palace built here, where he was visited by Lord Byron, the famous English poet, in 1809.

An earthquake destroyed the town and the palace of Ali Pasha in 1920.

Tepelenë Castle is freely accessible. Within its walls there is now a quiet residential neighborhood. A mighty castle looking out over the gorgeous Vjosë valley. Also, do take a walk over the rickety hanging footbridge, spanning the Vjosë river, below the castle.

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