Zharë Castle

Zharë Castle, locally known as Kalaja e Zharës, lies between the villages of Turan and Veliqot, in the county of Gjirokastër in Albania.

I could not find any historical information about this castle, situated on a hill in the Vjosë River valley. Only that it was called Zharë, after the hill on which it stands, and that archaeological research showed it dates back to the 4th-6th centuries. Because of its age, it is thought to be a Byzantine military fortification built by Emperor Justinian I.

Not much remains of the castle, which had an elongated, elliptical plan. You can, however, discern most of its defensive walls, the site of a cistern, a square tower at its northern end, and a D-shaped tower at the southern and highest point of the castle.

Zharë Castle is freely accessible. Not an interesting ruin, but I liked the location. There is a dirt road leading right up to the heart of the castle terrain from the asphalted road below it. Tepelenë Castle is nearby.

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