Elbasan Castle
| Elbasan Castle | |
|---|---|
| Elbasan, Albania | |
 | |
| Elbasan Castle | |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Site history | |
| Built | 15th century |
Elbasan castle is a 15th-century fortress located in the city of Elbasan, Albania.[1] The castle was initially composed of 26 equidistant 9 m (30 ft) high towers. Part of Via Egnatia passes through the castle.
The castle and its surrounding walls speak of the military significance of Elbasan in the early Ottoman period. The southern wall, more or less intact, is proof of the dimensions and the strength of fortifications. Some of the materials from Roman and Byzantine periods were reused during the reconstruction of the castle by Sultan Mehmet II, as seen especially in the foundations of the south-western tower. The castle used to have 26 towers, equidistant from each other, along the whole length of the 9 metre high wall. The fortress includes part of Via Egnatia, which runs through it, and traditional buildings with the characteristic architecture of urban dwellings, as well as other monuments.
Sinan Pasha's Turkish bath is situated within the walls of the castle. It is a well preserved attraction built in the early 19th century.