Kruje during 1400-1500 During these years Scanderbeg Kruje housed his troops, for many years the city has survived time powerful Ottoman attacks. the much better equipped with combat vehicles Ottoman soldiers tried several times to conquer the city, but without result. skenderbeu not fighting inside the city but outside it. He left only a small part of his army 2,000 soldiers to the city and hid himself in the woods near. when he saw the right time of the Ottoman attack and catch us by surprise. This type of fighting was paid so much the Ottomans after they left many men in battle fhushe. For several years the city was taken from Naples and King Alphonse V. Skanderbeg gave the castle in order to Naples to help with food and troops against the Ottomans. After the death of Alfonso, his son Ferrante took the throne with the help of Skanderbeg, who had led troops in southern Italy to helping stu- against Anjou Alphonse son who wanted to take the throne. Skanderbeg grateful for the help of Ferrante turned feudi shaped castle. Naples aid continued to come towards Kruje but not in the same amount as at the time of Alphonse.
Kruje is an important tourist center in Albania. In addition to Kruje their activity and some industries. To be mentioned are the shoe industry which employed many women and girls throughout centuries and surrounding municipalities. Also in Kruje it is also active extraction and processing industry limestone.
The Bazaar of Kruja has been protected since 1961 CE, preserving the rich characteristics of traditional Albanian markets of the 18th - 19th centuries CE. The market of Kruja covers a wide area, stretching from the center of the city to the western gate of the castle. The cobblestone street is lined with a variety of small shops displaying a range of products for sale, as well as artisans working in their studios. The roofs are made of wood, covered with tiling to protect both the shoppers and the products on display. Nowadays the original wooden facades of the market of Kruja are very well preserved. The market is famous for its diversity and for the eldest forms of merchandising, playing a special role in Albanian culture and tradition.
National Ethnographic Museum, Krujë, Albania
The museum is located in a traditional house built in 1764 by Ismail Pashe Toptani. The architecture of the building includes a closed corridor, a tower, and is two stories high, with 60-80 cm (24-31 in) thick walls. Frescoes from the Baroque and Islamic styles decorate most of its main rooms. At the entrance, there are several models of natural springs typical of the region. The origin of the name "Krujë", comes from "krojë" which means spring in Albanian. Krujë was known as a farming and agricultural center and later for its commercial and artisan activities. Grain, olives, grapes, goats, sheep, cows, poultry, and bees have been all cultivated and raised in the region.
The museum is chock-full of many traditional elements of the area, dealing with traditional life. It has 15 rooms and the objects exhibited inside give a complete view of the crafts applied in Krujë as well as all over Albania, giving a comprehensive look at the Albanian way of living over the past 300 years. Most of the museum’s items are original and all are fully functional, including some that are 500 years old. There is a charming, English-speaking tour guide who will give a hands on demonstration of the objects inside the museum. His animated presentations are not to be missed!
Seasons Open: Year-round
Hours Open: 08:00 - 13:00 (8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) & 16:00 - 19:00 (4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) from May to September; Rest of the year: 09:00 - 13:00 (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) & 15:00 - 18:00 (3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.); Closed on Monday
Fees: 300 Albanian leks
The museum is chock-full of many traditional elements of the area, dealing with traditional life. It has 15 rooms and the objects exhibited inside give a complete view of the crafts applied in Krujë as well as all over Albania, giving a comprehensive look at the Albanian way of living over the past 300 years. Most of the museum’s items are original and all are fully functional, including some that are 500 years old. There is a charming, English-speaking tour guide who will give a hands on demonstration of the objects inside the museum. His animated presentations are not to be missed!
Seasons Open: Year-round
Hours Open: 08:00 - 13:00 (8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) & 16:00 - 19:00 (4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) from May to September; Rest of the year: 09:00 - 13:00 (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) & 15:00 - 18:00 (3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.); Closed on Monday
Fees: 300 Albanian leks
Kruja Museum
The museums of Krujë include the Skanderbeg museum and the national ethnographic museum. The Skanderbeg museum, founded in 1982, was built in the environs of the Krujë castle. Its collection includes mostly 15th century artifacts related to the Albanian-Ottoman wars, during which the castle was besieged four times by the Ottoman army. The national ethnographic museum of Krujë was founded in 1989 and is located in a 15–6 room villa of the Toptani family built in 1764. The main exhibits of the museum are objects of artisanship, whose age varies from 60 to 500 years.