Skanderbeg Museum

National History Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"

Muzeu Historik Kombëtar "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"
Established	1 November 1982; 41 years ago (1982-11-01)
Location	Krujë, Albania
Type	Historical museum
Director	Mehdi Afizi
Architect	Pirro Vaso, Pranvera Hoxha
Website	muzeumet-kruje.com

The National History Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu" (Albanian: Muzeu Historik Kombëtar "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"), also known as the Skanderbeg Museum or the Kruja Museum, is located in Krujë and is one of the most important and visited museums in Albania. The museum was built at the end of the 1970s and was inaugurated on November 1, 1982. Its architecture was designed by architects Pirro Vaso and Pranvera Hoxha (the daughter of Enver Hoxha). Construction works were realized by a local team managed by Robert Kote. The museum has the character of a memorial, architecturally inspired by traditional Albanian stone towers and medieval Romanesque architecture.^[1] The name of the museum is in the honor of the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbej.

The Krujë Castle, which houses the museum, is a historic citadel. Ottoman troops attacked it thrice, in 1450, 1466 and 1467, but failed to take control until a fourth siege in 1476. It was this impregnable fortress that helped George Kastrioti Skanderbeg defend Albania from the Ottoman invasion for more than two decades.^[2]