It seems that spring has finally sprung in Tirana and yesterday, we decided to take a drive up into the mountains outside of the city to take a coffee with a serious view.
Preze Castle (Kalaja e Prezes) is a medieval castle situated in the village of Preze, Albania. A 30-minute drive from Tirana, it is worth a visit for the utterly incredible views and a dose of fresh air. Overlooking the village the castle was constructed in the 14th Century and was completed in the early 15th Century. It belonged to a local feudal family called the Thopias and it was one of the core strongholds of the Albanian resistance against the Ottomans led by Skanderberg. A location of extreme strategical importance, it offers 360-degree views as far as the eye can see.
The castle has been designated as a monument of culture and there is a quaint coffee shop within its walls where you can sit and refresh yourself after the strenuous climb.
The castle has four towers, one in each corner and the clock tower was build in around 1800. Overlooking the Tirana plane, you can see as far as Durres, as well as the airport, Vore, Kruje, and the mountains in the distance.
If you are looking to get away from the buzz of the city for a few hours and of course, to take some truly Instagram worthy pictures of the panorama, then Preze Castle is a perfect place.
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