Tourist resources

Rising upon the foundations of the antique Acropolis, it is widely accepted that the works for its building started around the VIII century AD. The castle passed through many construction phases until the last reconstruction of the 1520 by Sultan Selimi I. in the historical literature the Castle of Lezha was known by the name of Elison Castle. It has three entrances which were protected by towers and hidden alcoves, who favored by the geographical position made the castle unbreakable. On the year 2002, after the restoration works carried on, it was noted that the walls reached the thickness of 4.30 m.

Lissus included the Medieval castle, the Memorial of Scanderbeg and some other objects of historical value. The fortifying walls of Lissus are stronger than those of Apollonia, making this city one of the most known in the Illyrian - Epirus world. The city had two ports: one seaport in Nympheum (Shengjin) and another fluvial in the Oldrin (the today’s Drin, at the Memorial of Scanderbeg site)

In the southeast of Lezha raises the rocky mountain of Shelbuem, 408 m over the sea level. Its crown was surrounded in the antiquity by a long wall and two towers, thus forming there a much protected castle. The archeological studies have found here remains of a cultural substratum from the IX century AD, making this place one of the oldest in Albania. It still needs more archeological works to be carried on and more care so it won’t get forgotten.

The Memorial and Burial place has been built over the Church of S. Nicholas, on the spot where on 1468 was buried Gjergj Kastrioti – Scanderbeg. On 1478 the ottomans occupied Lezha and destroyed the grave of Scanderbeg, taking his bones to use as totems of infallibility. The Actual Memorial was built on 1981. Inside it there is the bust of Scanderbeg built by Odise Paskali. Over the marble plate there are bronze copies of the sword and spade of Scanderbeg. Inside the castle there are a series of shields symbolizing each a battle of Scanderbeg.

At the city center has been built this monument in memory of the important date of 2 march of 1444 when our National Hero, Scanderbeg gathered some of the most powerful Albanian princes in Lezha to join their forces against the ottoman invasion. The League of Lezha is the first legal jointure of Albanian lords which would lead to national awareness and latter renaissance. To remember this date, on the 500th anniversary of Scanderbeg’s death there was built this monument on 1968.

It is the oldest bridge over river Drin. It represents for the visitors it’s historical and artistically values.

It is a popular two storey building from the XIX century. It has architectural and artistic values for the work with it’s walls, roof, windows and doors.

The main water flow that runs through the city of Lezha is called river Drin although it no longer carries the waters of Drin River who were deviated after the hydropower plants were built. Still it has a consistent flow of water collecting river Gjader and the waters of Torovica and Zadrima.

The Palace of Culture is an important center in which there happen periodically important events for the civic education and the conservation of national values.

The Public Bibliotheca of Lezha has been constructed on 2001, with an interesting architecture. The building has 5 reading rooms, enough for the city of Lezha for a period of 20-30 years. The entrance in the bibliotheca is free and it operates on a 40-hours a week schedule from Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm. Different extra bibliotheca activities also happen in the premises. Also its sales and halls can be freed to users if they wish against the payment of a tariff placed by the municipality.

The traditional artisanal and the modern technique melt together in steel plaques ornate with laser techniques as a background for a carved wooden bas-relief of a big format. The traces a byzantine taste are noted at the four rounds of the big cross and the grape in the mosaic at the baptistery which give a golden perspective to all. The big interior space is filled by the elements of a church furnishing.

In the XIII century, Saint Francisco of Assisi, during his return from Damascus (somewhat before 1221) stopped in Lezha where he founded the first Franciscan convent of Albania. Two decades later there was built the Franciscan church at the hill in front of the city which held a carved stone with the scriptures in Latin: "POC TEMPLUM FRATON MINORUM AEDIFICATUM EST ANNO MCCXV" which translates: "This temple of minor Franciscan brothers has been built on 1240"

The Church of Metamorphosis in Lezha has been built on 2005 on a very visible place on the hill fronting the Scanderbeg Memorial. It has a typical byzantine style.

It is the only functioning mosque in the city of Lezha, after the other mosques have either been demolished of forgotten. It is a new building in the area of the new city near the stadium. After it has been put in use on the 1997 the old mosque of Sheher was abandoned.