Elbasan, Medieval fortress city in central Albania
Elbasan is a city in the municipality of Elbasan in central Albania, sitting along the banks of the Shkumbin River. The streets in the center connect residential blocks with commercial areas and a large market zone, where vendors sell vegetables, meat, and household goods.
Roman settlers established a military station here in the first century, known as Scampis, along an important trade route. The Ottoman Empire built a new fortress in the 15th century and encouraged Muslim families to settle, turning the city into a regional center.
The name comes from the Turkish words meaning 'the fortress,' reflecting how residents still refer to the walled quarter as simply 'the castle.' Local families gather in the evening along pedestrian streets near the old center, where small shops sell hand-rolled pastries and roasted nuts.
Buses run daily from the central station, connecting the city with Tirana and other destinations in the region. Visitors can walk through the old quarter, where shops and cafes line the main streets.
The fortress walls from the 15th century still enclose an entire residential neighborhood with homes and streets inside. Some sections of the wall stand more than 30 feet (10 meters) high and show the original construction using large stone blocks.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
