Triangular Castle, Medieval fortification in Butrint, Albania.
Triangular Castle is a medieval fortification with round towers at each corner, positioned strategically alongside the Vivari Channel within Butrint National Park. It has stone walls bordering blue-green water, with an interior courtyard accessible through a gatehouse.
Venetian builders erected this fortification in the 1400s to protect fishing operations and defend the local settlement. The channel was an important trade route, and the structure provided defense against both pirates and rival powers.
The fortification displays Venetian defensive design shaped to protect coastal trade routes. Its triangular layout and corner towers allowed those stationed there to monitor movement across the channel and nearby waters.
Access to the fortress is via cable ferry across the Vivari Channel after an hourly bus ride to the national park. Wear shoes with good grip since the stone paths are uneven, and visit in cooler months to avoid the heaviest crowds.
The courtyard contains a circular structure that may be a bath from the Ottoman period, offering a hint of later occupation. This element shows how different cultures used and modified the fortress over time.
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