ATA News

More and more tourists flock to Gjirokastra Castle, over 50 thousand visitors in first 5 months of the year

TIRANA, May 26 /ATA/ Gjirokastra Castle, owing to the historical and architectural values, continues to remain the main attraction for local and foreign tourist groups according to their guides and trips to the stone city.

The Gjirokastra Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage announces that “over 50,000 visitors visited the Gjirokastra Castle during the period January-May 2024.”

According to RDTC in Gjirokastër, more and more visitors are flocking to Gjirokastër Castle, which in the January-May period was visited by about 50% more than in the same period last year.

Eager to explore Gjirokastra, tourists come from different countries to immerse themselves in the beauty, history, and traditions of the museum city.

In every season of the year, the castle attracts thousands of visitors, becoming the most visited spot of the stone city.

The castle existed in various forms since before the 12th century. Princess Argjiro inspired Albanian author Ismail Kadare in a poem he wrote in the 1960s. According to local Albanian folkloric traditions she lived in the 15th century and jumped off Gjirokastër Castle along with her child so as to avoid being captured by the Ottomans. Extensive renovations and a westward addition was added by Ali Pasha of Tepelene after 1812. The government of King Zog expanded the castle prison in 1932. Today it possesses five towers and houses, the new Gjirokastër Museum, a clock tower, two teke, a cistern, the stage of the National Folk Festival, and many other points of interest.