Lëkurësi Castle

The hilltop offers a near-360° panorama: to the west, Saranda's bay and the Ionian Sea with Corfu on the horizon; to the east, a valley with Butrint Lake and the Gjerë mountain range. The fortress ruins are partial – walls, foundations of two round towers, and fragments of interior structures. The 16th-century limestone masonry is clearly visible.

Inside the castle walls sits a restaurant with a sprawling open-air terrace seating several dozen tables. The menu covers Albanian and Mediterranean cuisine – salads, fish, pizza, grilled meats, and drinks. On summer evenings, live traditional folk music and dancing are sometimes featured. Halfway up the road, the Natyra restaurant offers another panoramic terrace.

Around the castle, Hoxha-era concrete bunkers dot the hillside. The slopes are covered with olives and Mediterranean maquis scrub. The road up is a paved switchback – narrow in places but in good condition.

Year built – 1537, by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during his campaign against Corfu

Garrison – housed 220 soldiers, controlling Saranda's harbour and the road to Butrint

Walls – approximately 2 m thick, up to 7 m high, 16th-century limestone construction

Panorama – near-360° view: Saranda bay, Corfu, Butrint Lake, Gjerë mountains

Restaurant – inside the walls, with a sunset terrace and live folk music in summer

The fortress was built in 1537 by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during his military campaign against Corfu. It controlled Saranda's harbour and the strategic road to Butrint. The garrison numbered 220 soldiers. The plan is square with two round towers at the northwestern and southeastern corners. On the hillside below sat the village of Lëkurës, which at the time was larger than Saranda itself.

In the 18th century, the castle was raided by the forces of Ali Pasha of Tepelena. In February–March 1878, an armed conflict broke out between Albanian locals and Greek rebels led by Georgios Stephanou – the retreating Greeks took refuge inside the castle. After 1878 the village was abandoned and the fortress lost its military role. Partial restoration was carried out in the 20th–21st centuries, and a restaurant was opened within the walls. Today the castle is Saranda's principal viewpoint.

From central Saranda (3–4 km, 10 min by car):

– By car: paved switchback road, narrow in places but good condition. Free parking at the top

– Taxi: ~1,000 ALL (~€10) round trip, agree on a pickup time

– On foot: 45–60 minutes uphill on paved road

At the site:

Parking near the castle entrance. On summer evenings it fills up – arrive before 6:00 PM to guarantee a spot.

Season: Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) – comfortable temperatures for walking up, clear air and good visibility. Summer is hot; visit in the late afternoon.

Time of day: Sunset is prime time – panorama of the bay with the setting sun, restaurant open, possible live music. Morning is quiet, good for photos.

Duration: 30–60 minutes for ruins and panorama. 2–3 hours if dining at the restaurant.

Avoid: Midday sun in summer for the walk up. Saturday evenings in July–August – the restaurant gets very crowded.