Discover Eight of the Most Incredible Balkan Castles

Balkan Castles

The Balkans; a captivating region where east meets west and old meets new. The area has historically held great importance for invaders from all around resulting in some spectacular, strategically placed castles. Balkan castles are diverse and varied depending on which Empire ruled at the time of construction. Even without the castles, citadels and fortresses, the Balkan countryside is breath-taking. But add these historic, fascinating and beautiful strongholds into the rugged mountains and wild rivers and you find something quite remarkable.

We have compiled a brief introduction to some of the most striking Balkan castles.

Old Fortress of Corfu, Greece

While it’s debateable whether or not Corfu is part of the Balkans, it’s a mere 30 minute boat ride away so we can let her join in. The island is also home to the beautiful Old Fortress of Corfu. This Venetian fortress is situated on the East coast of the island looking across the Ionian Sea to mainland Greece and Albania.

The current structure was built by the venetians in the 15^th century. However, there was a byzantine castle on the site long before that.

The fortress is an easy walk from the old town. It can be viewed from the footpath along the coast, however, you can also pay €6 to explore inside and appreciate the Byzantine art museum.

Ali Pasha’s Castle, Albania

Across the water lies Albania, home to many Balkan castles. Ali Pasha was an Ottoman Albanian ruler from 1788–1822 and aimed to fortify the region’s waters in an effort to compete with the powerful Venetians. He also had a reputation for being a tyrant. He reportedly had one of his enemies executed in public by having all of his bones broken with a sledgehammer.

Back to the castle…One of the best remaining fortifications connected to the ruler is Ali Pasha’s Castle, near Butrint, in southern Albania. It was built by the venetians centuries earlier, but Ali Pasha resided here and so the castle is attributed to him.

Set right on the coast of the Ionian Sea, looking towards Corfu, the castle today is in an idyllic setting. It is pretty much totally off the tourist track but very near Butrint National Park. Just before you reach the car park at Butrint there is a small path that leads down to the coast. You can view the castle from here but the only real way to see it up close is to ask a local fisherman to take you across the water.

Gjirokaster Castle, Albania

Gjirokaster is one of Albania’s most picturesque towns. Also in southern Albania, it is about 1 hour and 30 minutes by bus from Saranda. It just happens to have a striking castle towering above the town at a height of 336 metres.

Reaching the castle in the stifling summer heat is quite a feat – requiring a few drinks stops on the way – but very worthwhile. Dating back to the 12th century, the strategic position of the castle provides spectacular views. Contained within is an arms museum, including tanks and antiaircraft guns, and a US fighter plane that was shot down during the war (although the information blurb lays claims to the contrary). All well worth the 1.5 Euro entry fee!

The clock tower within the castle sits at the very summit and was added from 1811 by, non-other than, Ottoman governor Ali Pasha. In the shadow of the tower is now a stage used for the National Folk Festival.

Fort Lovrijenac, Croatia

The charming old town of Dubrovnik is surrounded by fortifications. The city wall was built between the 12th–17th centuries and contains three forts within it. Alongside this, there are two detached forts in the city – Revelin Fortress and St. Lawrence Fortress. This was to fend off any invasion from the Ottoman Empire who had made it right to their doorstep.

St. Lawrence Fortress – or Fort Lovrijenac – may be recognisable to Games of Thrones fans as The Red Keep. Sitting at the top of a 37 meter high cliff, the fortress certainly looks ominous.

It is possible to buy a day ticket to walk the city walls and this will also include entry to Fort Lovrijenac. Make sure you do both on the same day as the ticket will set you back a hefty 200 KN or around €27.

Belgrade Fortress, Serbia

One of the top attractions in Serbia’s capital is Belgrade Fortress, and rightly so! Dating back to the 3^rd century it has faced many attacks over the millennia. More recently, in the first half of the 20^th century, a bunker was installed within the fortress after the Tito-Stalin split.

The Fortress, museum and bunker is visited by nearly 2 million tourists every year. There is so much to see and tickets cost less than €1.

Skopje Fortress, North Macedonia

Overlooking the Vardar River, from the city’s highest point, sits Skopje Fortress. Dating back over 1,600 years, continuous construction was carried out by many different rulers over time. During the Ottoman rule, the castle was abandoned and became dilapidated. When refurbishment began centuries later, a military hospital, a prison, warehouses and arsenals were exposed within the fortress.

Unfortunately, Skopje Fortress is not very well maintained. There is no entry fee and you can get a great view over the city but there is not much else to see. The castle is best seen from the river.

Peles Castle, Romania

Peles Castle is often overlooked by visitors to Romania. When one thinks of Romanian castles, Vampires often come to mind. More on that later…

Peles is considered by those who’ve seen it as one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. Thought to be more of a palace than a functional fortress, it was built by King Carol in the late 1800s and no expense was spared. It was the first castle in Europe to have electricity, it has hot and cold running water and even has a secret door in the library.

Bran Castle also happens to be quite nearby s it’s a good idea to do both of these castles in one day. Entry for Peles is 30 LEI, or around €6.20, but there is an extra fee if you wish to photograph the interior.

Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania

Tourists flock to Bran Castle in droves in search of one thing…Count Dracula. The castle looks sinister and imposing but has nothing to do with Vampires. Bran is the only castle in Transylvania to roughly fit the description in Bram Stoker’s novel and so has come to be known as Dracula’s castle.

Despite this, the castle is an impressive and ominous looking structure. Set 760 meters above sea level in the Carpathian Mountains, it looks over the village of Bran. It is within reach of Bucharest and makes a great day trip out of the city. Admission is 45Lei (€9).

Incredible Balkan Castles

The Balkans are much more accessible than you might think and are absolutely full of history. Travel between countries is easy and very cheap, however, public transport is not exactly efficient. But that’s all part of the fun! You don’t need to travel for weeks on end to see a good chunk of this beautiful part of the world. Check out our blog that shows you How to Make the Most of 8 Days in the Balkans.

Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.

Have you visited any Balkan countries? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!