# Tepelenë Castle

- **Country:** Albania
- **Coordinates:** 40.298900, 20.021400
- **Notes:** The walls of this castle do not form a normal geometric pattern. It once served as the second residence of Ali Pashë Tepelena.
- **Condition:** ruin
- **Year Built:** 1819
- **Location Text:** Tepelenë''''

Tepelenë Castle is situated in southern Albania’s Tepelenë town, strategically positioned at the confluence of the Drino and Vjosa valleys. Originally a Byzantine fortification, it was significantly expanded by Ali Pasha of Ioannina in 1819, serving as his primary residence during his rule over the Pashalik of Yanina. Spanning 4 hectares, the castle has been controlled by the Byzantine Empire, Zenevisi family, Ottoman Empire, and modern Albania. Its historical role as a military and administrative hub is underscored by its strategic location and long-standing significance in regional power dynamics.

Historical records from 1520 note a garrison of 183 soldiers, while 17th-century accounts by Evliya Çelebi described Tepelenë as desolate, lacking essential infrastructure like caravanserais or bathhouses. Today, remnants of the Ottoman-era structure—including sections of walls, two 10-meter-diameter towers, gates, and a minaret—remain partially preserved. The castle is open to the public as a historical site, reflecting its legacy as a focal point of Albania’s Ottoman-era conflicts and local resistance movements. Its enduring ruins offer insight into the region’s turbulent past and Ali Pasha’s influential reign.

![Photo of Tepelenë Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Kalaja_e_Tepelen%C3%ABs1.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tepelena_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)