Kruja, the citadel of Skanderbeg

George Kastrioti (Gjergj Kastriot), born in 1405, was the son of a local ruler who was taken hostage with his two brothers by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, to ensure obedience by their father who had opposed him. The boy converted to Islam, attended military school and led many battles to victory. He obtained the title "Iskender Bey", meaning "Lord Alexander", in Albanian "Skënderbeu". In 1443, during a battle against the Hungarians, he switched sides with 300 of his men and trekked to his native Kruja. He captured its castle, converted to Christianity, raised the double-headed eagle flag and fought for many years against the Turks, winning 13 battles, until his death in 1466. Kruja eventually fell in 1478 and a year later Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire.

The castle of Skanderbeg still dominates the small town of Kruja (or Krujë when in a sentence with a preposition as in "to", "in" or "from" Kruja). The site is still inhabited and home to a large museum dedicated to Albania's national hero; it was designed by Enver Hoxha's daughter and son-in-law and displays paintings and replicas of armour; Skanderbeg's original helmet and sword are kept in a museum in Vienna.

Kruja's old bazaar is well preserved, but now houses mainly souvenir shops where traditional Albanian costumes, musical instruments etc can be bought; also old books and memorabilia of the Communist days are for sale. Still, with its cobbled streets and little mosques it's a very photogenic place.

	Statue of Skanderbeg	Bazaar of Kruja	Souvenir shops	Kruja's bazaar
	Tourist shop	Costumes and craft	Bazaar and mosque	View of the citadel
	In Kruja citadel	Skanderbeg Museum	Painting, Skanderbeg Museum	Skanderbeg painting

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