6. CASTLE OF TIRANA
Castle of Tirana is a monument of culture of first category, approved by the former Ministry of Education and Culture with Nr.1886 Dt. 10/06/1973. New tracks of walls of Tirana Castle are declared a cultural monument with decision no. 652, Dt. 15.05.2008 by Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports.
Castle of Tirana is a field fortification 160x125m with rectangular plan that is extended east-west direction.
The construction parts that are preserved in some segments of the towers and walls indicate that the castle is built for the first time during late antiquity, probably in the early Byzantine period (IV- VI century AD). It is believed to belong to one of fortifications built or rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in New Epirus (province of Durres).
Perimeter walls of the castle that we can see nowdays over the ground, are build during last centuries, especially by Ahmet Pasha Bargjini (1788-1809), during the last decade of the XVIII century, on the ruins of the old castle. By surrounding castle walls is well preserved a part of the northern wall, between B and C tower that reaches to a height to 4m and tracts on its southern side of castle. The construction technique of this wall shows two phases: ancient and medieval that regards to XVIII century.
Today are recognized three towers of the castle (A, B, C), on the north side of the castle the circular tower (A), quadratic (B) and rectangular (C). Tower C is the only tower preserved up to 3m height. Assumed hypothetical existence of other towers in the west and east side of the perimeter walls of the Tirana castle.
graphic graphic