Petrelë

41.25444444444419.856111111111489Koordinaten: 41 ° 15 ' N, 19 ° 51 ' E

Petrela ( Albanian: Petrele ) is a village south of Tirana in Albania. The village is situated on a hilltop south of the river ores to around 500 müa. A short road connects the town with the river running along the main road from Tirana to Elbasan. From the junction to the center of Tirana is about 15 km. Petrela but is still a relationship of agriculture village remained. The municipality with surrounding villages has 5542 inhabitants ( 2011).

Petrela is particularly known for its castle, which was part of the defense system of the Albanian prince Scanderbeg in the 15th century. The castle is situated on a pointed hill west of the village, all the ores Valley overlooking. From here, the roads were controlled by the Krraba Pass. The first fortifications thought to date back to the 3rd century. In the 9th century, the plant was expanded and served the numerous local rulers of central Albania as a base. Later was added in an external enclosure, which provided protection to a small but well-fortified castle on the top. On a tower of the castle restaurant was built around the year 2000. By constructions, the historic structure has been greatly changed. Restaurant and Castle bring visitors from Tirana to the village.

Another fortress called Persqop on a hill east of the village comes from the Illyrian period ( 3rd and 2nd century BC ). Get is only a 30 m long and 6 m high Fragment of stone wall. In the castle, a grave was discovered.

The name Petrela is probably a mixture of the ancient Greek and the Latin alba petra, meaning White stone.