Durrës Castle

Durrës Castle is a fortified ancient city in the Albanian town of Durrës. It is surrounded by city walls that were constructed in the late fifth century and were rebuilt and reinforced in the Middle Ages and early modern times.

Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I (r. 491–518), who was born in Durrës, erected the fortress (ancient Dyrrhachium). Anastasius made the city one of the strongest fortified on the Adriatic at the time. An earthquake in 1273 destroyed the old walls, which had to be severely restored.

The medieval walls are now approximately 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall, with three entrances to some of the defense towers remaining along nearly one-third of the original length of the city walls. The Republic of Venice strengthened the castle with additional guard towers, and the wall was fortified during the Ottoman Empire's control in Albania.

Location: Durrës, Albania