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Gjirokastër Castle draws 300,000 visitors in just ten months

TIRANA, November 8 /ATSH/ – Gjirokastër Castle welcomed 300,000 domestic and international visitors between January and October 2026, marking a 6.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Sharing the latest visitor statistics for Gjirokastër Castle, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja highlighted that alongside the rise in visitor numbers, the monument also recorded a 10.5% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year.

“During January–October 2026 period, 300,000 domestic and international visitors explored the grandeur, history and heritage of this iconic monument. This success represents a 6.5% increase in visitors and a 10.5% rise in revenue compared to the same period last year,” stated Gonxhja.

Gjirokastër Castle is one of the country’s most significant historical and cultural heritage monuments, as well as a primary destination for both domestic and international tourists in the “City of Stone.” Within the castle grounds lies the National Museum of Weapons, opened in 1971, which displays arms from various historical periods. The castle is situated on a hill slightly detached from the Gjerë mountain range, approximately 370 meters above sea level.

Interest in Gjirokastër is growing year by year, establishing the city as one of the most significant destinations for cultural tourism in Albania. /m.m/p.s./