Life between cultures

At Kruja Castle: respect for history includes the visit itself

Valon Asani · · 1 min read

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During my visit to Kruja Castle, I recorded a short video because something outside the museum troubled me. People were asking visitors for money along the route. I felt that the experience did not reflect the respect we say we have for this place.

My reaction was directed at the authorities. In the recording, I asked for another solution for the people begging there. The issue deserves attention from those responsible for the area; moving a problem out of sight is not a lasting answer.

A place that carries our history

The National Tourism Agency places the Skanderbeg Museum inside Kruja’s fortress walls and describes its exhibitions on Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg and resistance to Ottoman rule. The historical setting is part of why people visit.

For me, respect for that history should be visible in the present-day visit, too. How the surrounding area is managed matters alongside what is displayed inside the museum.

This is a personal observation from one visit, not a full assessment of the site or its management. The video also repeats a visitor figure I was told during the visit; I have not independently verified that number and do not use it here as a statistic.

Original social post · 17 October 2026

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