TIRANA, Nov 16 /ATA/Although the tourist season from May to October 2024 has come to an end, visitors continue to explore the cultural heritage sites .
The Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage Shkodër announced that the Lezhë Castle, during the 10-month period from January 1 to October 31, 2024, was visited by 7,371 people.
“This figure marks an increase of 74.2% compared to last year, elevating it to the top of the list of sites and monuments in our country, “the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage Shkodër wrote in a post on social media.
Although the tourist season has officially ended, the weather has worked in the favour of tourists who have visited various sites such as castles, archaeological parks, and museums.
As for the Lezhë Castle, it is widely accepted that its construction began in the 8th century. The castle has undergone many stages of construction, with its final phase taking place in 1520 under Sultan Selim I. In historical and archaeological literature, the Lezhë Castle has long been known by the name Castle of Elison.
It has three gates that were well protected by towers and hidden chambers, which, favoured by its geographic location, made it impregnable. In 2002, after the restoration of the medieval castle’s foundations, it was observed that the thickness of the walls reached up to 4.30 meters, compared to the 3.50 meters thickness that was previously believed. To date, 12 gates and 48 defensive towers have been discovered.
