BAshtove – Albanian  Telegraphic  Agency. https://en.ata.gov.al News Agency Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:25:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Vilë Bashtovë coastal cleanup campaign to prepare for summer https://en.ata.gov.al/2026/04/08/vile-bashtove-coastal-cleanup-campaign-to-prepare-for-summer/ https://en.ata.gov.al/2026/04/08/vile-bashtove-coastal-cleanup-campaign-to-prepare-for-summer/#respond Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:25:48 +0000 https://en.ata.gov.al/?p=291998 TIRANA, April 8/ATA/ Cleanup has commenced on the Shkumbin delta channels near Vilë Bashtovë to prepare for the 2026 summer season.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports, the cleanup was initiated by the National Coastal Agency, with support from the Tirana District Prefecture, Rrogozhina Municipality, the Armed Forces, and the Local Education Office.

The Vilë Bashtovë area has experienced a surge in international tourism, driven by the annual festival and the recent restoration of the historic Bashtovë Fortress, a project proudly supported by the EU4Culture program.

The Bashtovë Castle is located about 2 km from the village of Vilë-Bashtovë near the Shkumbin River.

Built in the 15th century, this castle functioned as both a Venetian trading post and a fortress against Ottoman invaders. Its strategic location allowed defenders to control the Adriatic to the west and the plains to the east. /j.p/p.s./

 

]]> https://en.ata.gov.al/2026/04/08/vile-bashtove-coastal-cleanup-campaign-to-prepare-for-summer/feed/ 0 Experts from Vienna, Albanian craftsmen join forces to renovate Castle of Bashtova https://en.ata.gov.al/2022/09/10/experts-from-vienna-albanian-craftsmen-join-forces-to-renovate-castle-of-bashtova/ https://en.ata.gov.al/2022/09/10/experts-from-vienna-albanian-craftsmen-join-forces-to-renovate-castle-of-bashtova/#respond Sat, 10 Sep 2022 12:30:16 +0000 http://en.ata.gov.al/?p=187482 TIRANA Sept 10 /ATA/ –  A team of experts from the Institute for Conservation-Restoration at the Vienna’s Academy of Fine Arts have joined forces and are sharing their expertise with Albanian craftsmen currently working on restoration of the Castle of Bashtove in western-central Albania in the framework of the ‘EU4Culture’ programme, funded by the European Union and being implemented by UNOPS.

Minister of Culture Elva Margariti on Saturday took to the social media to share images of the ongoing work on restoration of the very well-preserved quadrangular fortress in a plain near the mouth of the River Shkumbin, about three kilometres from the Adriatic Sea.

“Experts are working together to make sure that this gem of cultural heritage is renovated by using the very traditional techniques, original building materials the best conservation technologies to deliver best possible results,” Margariti said.

Culture Minister also said that Vienna experts and Tirana University students assessed stone damages and learned ancient technique of mixing mortar and grouting, ensuring transfer of know-how to deliver on correct restoration of damaged wall sections.

The Castle of Bashtova is an impressing fortress located near Vile Bashtova village, Kavaja area, some 76 km away from Tirana.

Historians say that it was built by the Venetians in the 15th century and according to Turkish traveler Evlija Celebi it was conquered by the Turks in 1478. It was built on a Greenfield site and has a rectangular plan.

It is believed that it was a two-story structure and that the first floor is underground. The walls are nine meters high and one meter wide. Three towers, two circular and one rectangular are still preserved as well as the castle entrances.

The castle is visited by numerous Albanian and international visitors. The area near the castle is surrounded by a picturesque bay laurel forest. The green fields, the river, and the sea make the castle appealing to visitors.

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