Bazaar Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Krujë, Albania.
Bazaar Mosque, also called Murad Bey Mosque or Varosh Mosque, is a 1533 Ottoman mosque in Krujë's Derexhiku Bazaar, known in Ottoman times as Akce Hisar. It is about 20 metres long, with a stone minaret rebuilt after the Communist-era original was torn down.
Bazaar Mosque was built in 1533–1534 by Murad Bey, an Ottoman Albanian bey, in the Derexhiku Bazaar of Krujë, called Akce Hisar in Ottoman times. The communist government of Enver Hoxha closed it in 1967 and demolished its stone minaret; worship resumed in 1991, and the minaret balcony was rebuilt in 1994. A 2010s restoration by the Turkish agency TIKA whitened the interior, erasing its old paintings.
The mosque's name comes from the Derexhiku Bazaar, called Akce Hisar in Ottoman times, where it was built by Ottoman Albanian beys. Its other names, Murad Bey Mosque and Varosh Mosque, are still used locally. The 2010s TIKA renovation whitened the interior, so the antique ornate painting described in older accounts can no longer be seen.
The site remains open to visitors outside of prayer times, though appropriate clothing and respect for religious customs are expected. Planning your visit during off-prayer hours makes for a more comfortable experience when exploring the interior.
The mosque stands in the Derexhiku Bazaar, called Akçe Hisar in Ottoman times. Its 20-metre length is recorded in Turkish sources, and the minaret balcony, larger in the Ottoman period, was rebuilt after being demolished under communism.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,632 contributors worldwide.