Berat Castle – The Best Tips & Highlights

Berat › Berat Castle – The Best Tips & Highlights

The castle of Berat (Albanian: Kalaja e Beratit) is the fortified citadel of the medieval Albanian city of Berat. During our adventurous trip through Albania, we were able to visit many impressive castles. From remote fortifications such as the fortress of Porto Palermo to the castles high above the Albanian cities of Gjirokaster or Sarandë. The castle of Berat towers high above the city and thus promises great views of the surrounding area.

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Stunning Vistas

Berat Castle provides breathtaking views of the city below, known as “The City of a Thousand Windows” due to the distinctive white Ottoman houses cascading down the hill.

Looking down from the upper walls, you can take in panoramic views of the river Osum winding through the valley below and the slopes of Mount Tomorr rising in the distance. As night falls, the castle’s illuminated stone walls create a magical ambiance, perfect for appreciating its long history.

Life Within The Walls

Remarkably, the castle is still inhabited today. The castle town, also known as “Kala”, houses around 100 families living in traditional Ottoman-era houses, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the daily life within this historic fortifications.

Wandering through the narrow, winding alleys, you may encounter locals drawing water from antique pumps or observe old women sipping coffee on their porches. The authentic atmosphere will transport you back in time.

Residents have worked to preserve and maintain their homes within the castle. In some houses, families have lived for over 500 years, passing them down through generations. This living heritage adds to the richness of the experience.

Visitor information about the castle of Berat

As UNESCO World Heritage Site, Berat Castle is an ancient fortress dating back to the 4th century BC. This castle offers visitors a glimpse into centuries of Albanian history, religion and culture, with remains of Mosques and Churches, and stunning panoramic views over the surrounding city.

The hill was inhabited and fortified as early as ancient times. Over the centuries, Berat Castle was repeatedly rebuilt or remodelled. The last major reconstruction was probably carried out in the 13th century under Ottoman rule. The fortifications were built at that time, of which the perimeter wall is still completely intact, as well as the present-day district inside the walls.

• Opening Hours – Berat Castle is open 24hrs a day as there’s no fence or gate, though the main entrance is officially open 9am-6pm
• Entrance Fee – The entrance fee to the castle is 300 Albanian Lek (around €3). However, so far I have never been asked to pay at the gate.

Inside the castle walls, you will find cafés, restaurants, and a few shops. I found that it was much more authentic than other castles in the country.

How to get to Berat castle and where to park

The city of Berat can be reached mainly from the north via the SH 73, even though it was not in the best condition at the time of my visit.

The castle of Berat is located on a hill in the middle of the city. It is possible to drive right up to the entrance of the castle and park in front of the gate here.

I visited the castle coming from the Mangalem district. From there I took the steep road Rruga Mihal Komnena up the hill. Halfway up, there is even a shortcut up to the castle, so you don’t have to follow the road all the way. The way up takes about 15 mins. You can either walk or drive the rather narrow road.

Travel Tip: Bring shoes you’re fine with walking a whole day. A consequence of Berat’s beautiful architecture is that the ground is mostly uneven cobblestone. It can get a bit hard if you spend a lot of time walking (especially up towards the castle).

Hotel Tip: I stayed at Berati Castle Hotel and really loved it. The rooms are super cozy and and it’s a small and quiet place to stay in Berat. Elfi and her staff were very welcoming, and I could not have wished for better service. The hotel also has a great terrace outside where you can enjoy meals or just sip a coffee.

The Best Things To Do In Berat Castle

You might be thinking that visiting Berat Castle just means wandering around, but as one of the largest castles in the country, you can actually do much more here. Here are the best things to do whilst you’re there:

Walk The Castle Walls

Follow the walls around the perimeter of Berat Castle and you’ll discover some of the most amazing views and ruins to explore. The walls are less than 2km so it shouldn’t take too long to walk, but we recommend taking your time to really explore along the way.

Museums – Visit the Onufri Iconographic Museum Berat

Whilst Berat Castle has no dedicated museum to its history, several museums lie on its grounds. The most well-known of these is the Onufri Museum of Iconography in the centre of the castle, built inside the largest Church on site.

The Museum holds 200 artwork objects, icons and liturgical items dated from the 14th to the 20th century, brought together from various churches and monasteries in the region. You will see icons painted by renown Albanian icon painters such as Onufri, Onufri’s son Nikolla, Onufër the Cypriot, David Selenica and Kostandin Shpataraku as well as anonymous painters. Alongside, liturgical items bear the signature of Albanian silversmiths of various times, and the Cathedral’s woodcarvings by masters Stefan Barka and Naum Ngjela, from Misrasi and Lavdari, in Opari, in the early 19th Century.

Alternatively, you can also head to the Mbrica Family Museum for a greater insight into life in Albania.

Explore The Church Of The Holy Trinity

This beautiful Byzantine Church is a must on everyone’s Berat Castle bucketlist. The picturesque Holy Trinity Church stands proudly upon the hill, within the walls of Berat Castle. It’s one of many churches in the old town of Berat, in central Albania. 

Mount Shpirag can be seen rising in the distance behind later additions to the city of Berat.

Considering most religious buildings in Albania were destroyed during the country’s turbulent past, this Church is remarkably well-preserved, dating back to the 14th Century. However, the doors to the Church remain firmly closed the majority of the year, and it’s rare for visitors to be able to peek inside.

Admire The Incredible Panoramic Views from the castle walls

As Berat Castle is built on top of a steep hill, it’s no wonder it has the most incredible views. With a large viewing platform overlooking the city and the Osum River, it is undoubtedly the best viewpoint in Berat.

That being said, as you walk around the castle, you’ll encounter numerous other impressive viewpoints that will leave you speechless. The green mountainous backdrop to the orange-roofed houses are simply spectacular.

Discover the remaions of Berat Castle’s Red Mosque

Berat Castle is home to the ruins of one of the oldest mosques in the country. The Red Mosque, by the southern Kala walls, was also the first mosque in Berat and dates back to the 15th century. Its name derives from the fact that it was built partly from red bricks.

This important historical site is one of the first signs of Muslim influence in a previously Christian city, which arguably has shaped the look of the town today. If you’re visiting Berat Castle, you can still see the minaret of the Red Mosque standing tall above the castle walls.

Conclusion

We really enjoyed our trip to Berat and the long drive from Vlora to Berat was definitely worth it. Even though we concentrated mainly on the castle of Berat, the city offers many exciting things to do.

From the castle hill and the walls, we had a fantastic view of the surrounding area. For example, we looked over to the district of Gorica, which impressed us with its Ottoman architecture and many windows. But we also enjoyed the view of the valley and the surrounding mountains.