Prizren Fortress

Prizren Fortress is a historic stronghold sitting atop a hill in Prizren, Kosovo. The fortress enjoys a wonderful view over the Prizren River flowing through the city, with the city having developed around the fortress. Use and settlement of the fortress dates back to antiquity, having been used since the Bronze Age (around 2000 BC). The fortress was rebuilt during the era of Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian.

Byzantine rule in the region finally ended in 1219-1220 when the Serbian Nemanjić dynasty took control of the fortress until 1371. Since then, a succession of local feudal rulers controlled Prizren and its fortress, including the Balšić, Dukagjini, and Hrebeljanović families, and finally the Branković family, often with support from the Ottoman state. Direct Ottoman control of the fortress came after 1450, and over time the fortress became a central stronghold in the Rumelia Eyalet. A large part of the fortress was rebuilt in the 18th century.

The fortress sits atop a dominating hill in the eastern part of the city of Prizren, notable for its strategic location and surrounding natural beauty. Archaeological excavations were carried out in 1969, and repeated in 2004 and 2009-2011, uncovering a remarkable infrastructure, including interlocking walls reinforced with towers, houses, maze-like passages, storerooms, and rooms and other internal dwellings. It was declared a cultural landmark of exceptional importance in 1948.

Location of Prizren Fortress