Holiday apartment in Fushë-Krujë – Qafë-Shtamë Nature Park and Albanopolis

Fushë-Krujë reveals its special features in more than one way. Landscape, archaeology, religious traditions, handicrafts and more recent commemorative landmarks stand here as distinct themes alongside one another. Added to these are mountain trails, a gorge with unusual rock formations and a thermal spa, so the impressions clearly differ from one another.

Nature

Qafë-Shtamë was designated a nature park in protection category IV under Decision No. 60 of 26 January 2022. In the nature park, visitors can take walks and hikes, take photographs, have picnics, observe the local flora and fauna, and explore mountain trails. The Skanderbeg Trail provides a specific route length: its ascent covers approximately 3.71 kilometres and takes about two and a half hours. Lake Peak reaches an elevation of 1,725 metres there.

Other named natural sites also shape the landscape. Rrepet e Arramerasit in Fushë-Krujë are natural monuments assigned to Krujë. The Fushë-Krujë Selvie is a category III natural monument and a resource for nature tourism. Gryka e Zezë contains karst caves as well as large boulders that have broken away from the sides of the gorge and lie in the riverbed. Their arrangement creates the impression of a natural bridge.

History

Archaeological research links Albanopolis to settlement by the Albanian tribe from the 4th century BC onwards. The ruins of Albanopolis lie on a hill in the southern section of the national road between Krujë and Fushë-Krujë. A 90-metre-long stone wall with three towers remains from the ancient city. Albanopolis was divided into the Acropolis, the Middle City and the Small City.

Another historical site is located on the hill of Zgërdhesh. There are about ten tunnels there that were built between 1945 and 1990 as part of a communist military base. These military tunnels from the communist era are located in the Fushë Krujë administrative unit, approximately 5 kilometres from the centre of Fushë-Krujë.

Culture

The Krujë region is known for traditional crafts such as copperworking, woolworking and silversmithing. Other crafts include the production of qeleshe, woodcarving, embroidery and weaving. In Fushë-Krujë, the tekke is also associated with the year 1562 and Father Ali. The family-run Llixha Bilaj thermal spa is also located in Fushë-Krujë and offers natural mineral baths.

Among the town's more recent commemorative landmarks is the statue of President George W. Bush. It is 2.85 metres high and depicts George W. Bush with his left hand raised. A plaque on the pedestal records his visit to Albania in 2007 and describes him as a great friend of the Albanians. The statue was unveiled on 6 July 2011; it is said to have been erected at the place where Bush gave a public speech in 2007.

Geographical setting

The road to Krujë passes through the Kamëz junction and over the Tapizë bridge. After leaving the Tirana–Lezhë motorway, it turns towards Fushë-Krujë. Thus, different landmarks appear along the regional connection before the road continues towards the town.

More local pages: Durrës, Shijak, Shetaj, Maminas, Kruja District, Shkallnur, Tapizë, Rinas.

For the higher-level travel overview: Durrës County.