Tuši's blog: 16944

Albania: Yearly Vacation - Albania - Lezhë Castle

Seventeen days, two motorcycles, one destination. For this year's holiday, Nada and I headed to Albania, planning to explore its coastline from north to south before turning towards the mountains and making our way home through some of the country's most scenic landscapes.

After a long ride from Slovenia, Nada and I decided to take things a little easier. Instead of covering long distances, we spent the day exploring the historic city of Lezhë and the castle overlooking it. From the fortress, we enjoyed wide views across the surrounding plains, the Adriatic coastline and the Drin River valley, while the old walls offered a glimpse into the region's long and turbulent history. While in town, we also took care of a practical task and withdrew some Albanian lek from an ATM, making the following days of our journey a little easier - Garmin Connect.

Back in Talë, we finished the day the same way we had the previous evening: with a relaxing walk along the beach (Garmin Connect) before returning to the apartment for dinner. As the sun gradually disappeared behind the Adriatic Sea, we enjoyed a peaceful end to a day that was less about riding and more about settling into the rhythm of our Albanian adventure.

Previous days of Albania Moto trip 2025: Day 3 - 16943, Day 2 - 16942, Day 1 - 16941.

A quick lesson in Albanian traffic culture. Expect the unexpected.

Exploring the ruins of Lezhë Castle, a fortress with a history spanning many centuries.

The castle's strategic location explains why this hill has been fortified since ancient times.

A perfect viewpoint above Lezhë and the coastal plain stretching towards the Adriatic Sea.

The hilltop fortress of Lezhë traces its origins back to the ancient Illyrians, while much of the present castle was shaped by Venetian and Ottoman rule.

The Drin is unusual among European rivers because it reaches the Adriatic Sea through two different outlets. Following major floods and an earthquake in the mid-19th century, the river changed its course near Shkodër, sending part of its waters into the Buna River and towards Ada Bojana, while the old channel continued to flow towards the Gulf of Drin near Lezhë.

Exploring the weathered walls and hidden corners of Lezhë Castle.

A view over Lezhë, one of Albania's oldest continuously inhabited cities.

Lezhë is best known as the city where Skanderbeg united the Albanian nobles in 1444.

Overlooking Lezhë and the fertile Drin plain stretching towards the Adriatic Sea.

Few visitors realize that ancient Lezhë was once known as Lissus, an important Illyrian city and trading centre more than 2000 years ago.

For the next two weeks, Nada and Tuši were honorary Albanians.

Albanians call their country Shqipëria. While often translated as the "Land of the Eagles", linguists believe the name originally meant "the land of those who speak the same language" or "the land of those who understand each other".

Much of the castle visible today dates from the Venetian reconstruction of the 15th century, when Venice controlled this strategic gateway between the Adriatic coast and the Balkan interior.

Lezhë Castle became part of the Ottoman Empire, which further strengthened the fortress in the early 16th century.

Although fortified by the Ottomans in the 16th century, Lezhë Castle was gradually abandoned as warfare evolved and the strategic focus shifted from hilltop fortresses to the growing town below.