tradition
Kullas — the stone tower houses of the Albanian highlands
Multi-storey defensive stone houses with tiny windows and a single doorway — kullas are the architecture of a place that needed to defend itself.
Written by myAlbania Editorial·April 28, 2026·2 min read
A kulla (plural kulla) is a fortified tower-house, three to four storeys tall, built of mortared stone with rifle slits instead of windows on the lower floors. Found across the Albanian highlands and Kosovo, they were both family home and last refuge during a blood feud.
Where to see them
- Theth — the Lock-in Tower museum is preserved.
- Valbonë valley — many converted into guesthouses.
- Drenovë (Korçë outskirts) — a few intact examples.
- Vermosh — still inhabited.
Today
Many kullas have been converted into stone-walled boutique guesthouses — sleeping in one is the closest you'll get to time-travelling in Albania.
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