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Rozafa Castle, Shkoder

4.5

#1 of 18 in Things to do in Shkoder

Castle Tourist Spot Must See

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Soak in history along with views of Lake Shkodra and the city of Shkoder at Rozafa Castle. The castle dates back to antiquity, founded by the Illyrians, conquered by the Romans in 167 BC, and rebuilt by both the Venetians and the Turks. Legend has it that when the castle was being built, an old man advised three brothers to sacrifice someone so that the walls would stand. The brothers decided to sacrifice whichever of their wives brought them lunch the next day and agreed not to tell their wives of the plan. However, the two older brothers informed their wives that evening, while the youngest brother did not. Thus, when the youngest brother's wife, Rozafa, brought him lunch the next day, she was chosen for sacrifice. Keep an eye out for the sculpture of Rozafa near the castle museum's entrance. You can reach the castle via town bus, taxi, or bicycle, which numerous hotels offer for rent. Plan to see Rozafa Castle and other attractions that appeal to you using our Shkoder trip builder.

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Rozafa Castle Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

797 reviews

Google

4.6

• By jimsZ2896HZ

  Visited in November, so it was quiet, lonely, bleak. Large, ruined fortress offered fantastic views. Read up on the history first: knowing some of the background, and the strange legends around...  more »

• By Indefinitewanderer

  Coming from rural Montana all the way to bustling Shkodër I doubted my sanity, but the serenity and beauty of the Rozafa Castle really warmed me up to Albanian life. We visited on a bright sunny...  more »

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Google

• By Mills

  This place will always have a special place in my heart as well ... this is where I lost my virginity. It was surreal. BUT. Whilst mounting the goat it hit is head against the wall and died :(.

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• By Sylvia Wu

  It is a bit far away from the city center. Better to go with comfortable shoes if you mange to walk along the sidewalk. The castle is located on the top of the hill. From there you can see the river and the houses of the city. It is quite windy but nice to get refreshed after hiking up the hill.

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