castle
Krujë Castle
The hilltop fortress of Albania's national hero Skanderbeg, housing a museum dedicated to his legendary resistance against the Ottoman Empire.
35 km · about 40 min drive
EuropeAlbaniaDurrës County
Durrës
Durrës County, Albania · Europe
About Durrës
Durrës sits on the route: 10 minutes from Rrashbull, 35km from Krujë Castle.
Durrës is in Durrës County, Albania, with about 200,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Rrashbull, about 5 km away.
Durrës ( DUURR-əs, Albanian: [ˈdurəs]; Albanian definite form: Durrësi) is the second most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is one of Albania's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with roughly 2,500 years of recorded history. It is located on a flat plainRead more
along the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast between the mouths of the Erzen and Ishëm at the southeastern corner of the Adriatic Sea. Durrës's climate is profoundly influenced by a seasonal Mediterranean climate.
Durrës was founded under the name of Epidamnos around the 7th century BC, by ancient Greek colonists from Corinth and Corcyra in cooperation with the Taulantii, a local Illyrian tribe. Also known as Dyrrachium, Durrës developed as it became an integral part of the Roman Empire and its successor the Byzantine Empire. The Via Egnatia started in the city and led east across the fields, lowlands and highlands of the Balkan Peninsula to Constantinople.
In the Middle Ages, Durrës was contested between Bulgarians, Venetians, local Albanian noble families, and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans ultimately prevailed, ruling the city for more than 400 years from 1501 until 1912. Following the Albanian Declaration of Independence, the city served as the capital of the Principality of Albania for a short period of time. Subsequently, it was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy in the interwar period and was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. Durrës experienced a strong expansion in its demography and economic activity under the People's Socialist Republic of Albania.
The transport connections, concentration of economic institutions and industrial tradition underlie Durrës's leading economic position in Albania. It is served by the Port of Durrës, one of the largest on the Adriatic Sea, which connects the city to other neighbouring countries. Its most considerable attraction is the Amphitheatre of Durrës that is included on the Albanian tentative list for designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once having a capacity for 20,000 people, it is the largest amphitheatre in the Balkan Peninsula.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Durrës?
Within an hour or so of Durrës: Krujë Castle (35 km).
Are there any good drives near Durrës?
The nearest famous roads are Galičica Pass Road, Albanian Riviera Coastal Road and Kotor Serpentine Road.
Where is Durrës?
Durrës is in Durrës County, Albania, about 5 km from Rrashbull.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 195,920
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Albania
- Region
- Durrës County
- Timezone
- Europe/Tirane
- Coordinates
- 41.3235, 19.4547
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Worth the detour from Durrës
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
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