Preza Castle is located in the northeast of Tirana, just a few kilometers from “Mother Teresa” airport. It is a typical medieval castle. It had its greatest flourishing in the 15th century, but various data have led specialists to think that it must have been built from there in the 13th – 14th centuries. She belonged to the Topiaj feudal family.
The castle is shaped like an irregular pentagon with round towers at four of its corners and a rectangular tower near the middle of one of the walls. It has a length of 80 m and a width of 50 m. In its courtyard there is a large stele, while above the gate, in a second phase, a mosque was built.
Starting from the small area of the castle, it is thought that it should not have served as a residence, but only had a military function. Its small size, as well as the not very strong durability of the surrounding walls, classify this fort as an object that has served for the observation of important economic and military roads that passed under it through the plains of Tirana.
This castle is also a point of visual communication or conveying messages through visual signals between the castles of Petrela, Kruja, Durres and Ishmi.
The road that leads us to the entrance to the castle, paved with cobblestones, ends at a high wooden gate, where there is also an inscription, from which we learn more about the history of the Preza castle. “It is believed that the castle was built in the 3rd century BC and from that time until the 19th century it was completely destroyed and rebuilt several times and from this the city got its name Phoenix (which symbolizes renewal)”, it is said in inscription.
In addition to the historical values, the Preza Castle offers a wonderful view of the fields of Tirana. It is located 22 km from Tirana and you can get there in 40 minutes.
