Borsh Castle

Borsh Castle, also known as Sopot Castle, is a historic fortress perched on a hill above the village of Borsh on the Albanian Riviera. The site was first fortified by the ancient Chaonians in the 4th century BC and later rebuilt during the Byzantine, medieval, and Ottoman periods. Its medieval name, Sopot, is of Slavic origin and appears in historical records as Sopotos or Sopoton, reflecting the region’s diverse cultural influences over the centuries. The fortress played an important strategic role in controlling coastal routes along the Ionian Sea and changed hands many times between the Despotate of Epirus, the Venetians, and the Ottomans.

One of the castle’s most notable historical events occurred in 1481, when Gjon Kastrioti II, the son of Albania’s national hero Skanderbeg, briefly captured the fortress during an uprising against Ottoman rule. The castle was later strengthened by Ali Pasha of Ioannina, whose fortifications remain visible today.

Inside the fortress stand the ruins of the Hajji Bendo Mosque, an Ottoman-era mosque built before the 17th century. Located near the entrance, it is one of the few surviving examples of a mosque constructed within a fortified hilltop settlement in southern Albania. Although damaged during the 20th century, its remains continue to illustrate the castle’s long Ottoman chapter.

Timeline

1. Late Bronze Age, c. 1200–1000 BC

   Earliest fortified settlement appears on the hill above the Ionian coast.

2. 4th century BC

   The site develops into a fortified Chaonian hill-town in ancient Epirus.

3. Hellenistic period, 3rd–2nd centuries BC

   Borsh becomes part of a regional defensive network controlling coastal and inland routes.

4. Late 1st century BC

   The ancient settlement is abandoned and remains largely unoccupied for many centuries.

5. 6th century AD

   The fortress is re-fortified during the Byzantine period, traditionally associated with Justinian I.

6. Early 13th century

   The fortress is recorded in written sources as Sopotos or Sopot.

7. 1258

   Sopot is included in the dowry of Helena of Epirus in her marriage alliance with Manfred of Sicily.

8. 1279

   The fortress is ceded to Charles I of Anjou amid struggles for control of Epirus and the Ionian coast.

9. 1431

   Ottoman records list Sopot as the centre of a nahiye, showing its administrative and strategic importance.

10. 1481

    Gjon Kastrioti II captures Sopot during an anti-Ottoman uprising in southern Albania.

11. 1484

    Ottoman forces regain control of the fortress.

12. 1570–1571

    Venetian forces briefly capture Sopot before it returns to Ottoman control.

13. Late 18th – early 19th century

    Ali Pasha of Ioannina renovates and strengthens the fortress; much of the visible masonry belongs to this phase.

14. 19th century

    The fortress gradually loses its military role and is abandoned.

15. Today

    Borsh Castle survives as one of the largest fortified sites on the Albanian Riviera, with remains from ancient, Byzantine, medieval and Ottoman phases.

Visitor Information

Reaching Borsh Castle requires a short uphill drive or hike from the village of Borsh. The reward is one of the most spectacular viewpoints on the Albanian Riviera, overlooking the Ionian Sea, the Borsh valley, and Albania’s longest beach. Visitors should wear comfortable footwear, bring water during the summer months, and allow at least one hour to explore the extensive ruins. Sunset is considered the best time to visit, when the ancient stone walls are illuminated by the warm evening light and the coastline can be seen stretching for miles in both directions.