Skanderbeg Museum
{{Other uses|Skanderbeg (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = National History Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"
| native_name = Muzeu Historik Kombëtar "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"
| logo = Qendra. Muzeore Krujë.png
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| image = 250px
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| established = {{Start date and age|1982|11|1|df=y}}
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| type = Historical museum
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| director = Mehdi Afizi
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| architect = Pirro Vaso, Pranvera Hoxha
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| website = {{URL|https://muzeumet-kruje.com/}}
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The National History Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu" ({{langx|sq|Muzeu Historik Kombëtar "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"}}), also known as the Skanderbeg Museum or the Kruja Museum, is located in Krujë and is one of the most important and visited museums in Albania. The museum was built at the end of the 1970s and was inaugurated on November 1, 1982. Its architecture was designed by architects Pirro Vaso and Pranvera Hoxha (the daughter of Enver Hoxha). Construction works were realized by a local team managed by Robert Kote. The museum has the character of a memorial, architecturally inspired by traditional Albanian stone towers and medieval Romanesque architecture.{{Cite web|url=http://argophilia.com/albania/skanderbeg-museum.html|title=Skanderbeg Museum (Muzeu Kombetar Gj. Kastriot Skenderbeu) {{!}} Visit Albania|website=argophilia.com|access-date=2018-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026001600/http://argophilia.com/albania/skanderbeg-museum.html|archive-date=2017-10-26|url-status=dead}} The name of the museum is in the honor of the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbej.
The Krujë Castle, which houses the museum, is a historic citadel. Ottoman troops attacked it thrice, in 1450, 1466 and 1467, but failed to take control until a fourth siege in 1476. It was this impregnable fortress that helped George Kastrioti Skanderbeg defend Albania from the Ottoman invasion for more than two decades.{{cite web|title=Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeg Museum of Krujë, Albania|url=http://www.balkansgeotourism.travel/content/gjergj-kastrioti-skenderbeg-museum-of-kruj%C3%AB-albania/see7BCD502F3C44F1400|publisher=National Geographic|accessdate=28 February 2014}}
Building
The Skanderbeg Museum project was based on the conceptual platform designed by Aleks Buda in September 1976, which was sent as a design assignment to the Institute of Studies and Projets (ISP) No.1 Tirana, under the direction of architect Pirro Vaso. After reviewing three variants, the ISP decided to continue the work on designing a building based on these variants and decided that the site where the museum would be built was in the interior of the walls of the old Kruja Castle. The design team consisted of Pirro Vaso, Pranvera Hoxha, F. Stermasi, K. Meka, L. Gashi, Gjarçani and R. Agalliu, who designed a building which would be stylistic to the Albanian medieval towers, mainly built in northern Albania.{{Cite web|url=http://telegraf.al/kulture/haki-hoxha-muzeu-i-krujes-vlerat-e-nje-vepre-monumentale|title=Haki HOXHA* / Muzeu i Krujës, vlerat e një vepre monumentale|last=Telegraf|first=Gazeta|website=Gazeta Telegraf|language=en|access-date=2018-03-01}} After the museum's draft idea was approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the ISP working group started work on the project implementation of this work. The works for the construction of the museum began in September 1978 and they were directed by Robert Kote.{{Cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/flasin-realizuesi-i-vertete-i-projektit-dhe-gurgdhendesi-i-muzeut-muzeu-i-krujes-su-projektua-nga-pranvera-hoxha-dhurate-nga-enveri-per-diplome/|title=Flasin realizuesi i vërtetë i projektit dhe gurgdhendësi i muzeut: Muzeu i Krujës s’u projektua nga Pranvera Hoxha, dhuratë nga Enveri për diplomë|website=www.panorama.com.al|language=sq|access-date=2018-03-01}} In March 1980, the Ministry of Education and Culture set up two working groups for the preparation of the museum content model, pavilions, mural paintings, and so on. The group of historians led by professor Kristo Frasheri and the group of painters led by Bashkim Ahmeti completed this design in the end of 1980.{{Cite web|url=http://www.arkivalajmeve.com/Mjeshteria-e-derdhur-ne-dy-muralete-muzeut-mesjetar-te-Krujes.1047633846/|title=Mjeshtëria e derdhur në dy muralet e muzeut mesjetar të Krujës - Arkiva Shqiptare e Lajmeve|website=www.arkivalajmeve.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-01}}
On 1 November 1982, the museum opened to the public.{{Cite web|url=http://muzeumetkruje.gov.al/?page_id=2|title=Rreth Nesh {{!}} Muzeumet Krujë|website=muzeumetkruje.gov.al|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124201256/http://muzeumetkruje.gov.al/?page_id=2|archive-date=2018-11-24|url-status=dead}}
Exhibits
The museum contains objects dating back to Skanderbeg's time. The exhibits have been arranged in a way that chronicles his life and military feats. Paintings, armor, and other artifacts dating back to his time have been exhibited to showcase one of the proudest periods of Albanian history. An interesting display is the replica of the hero's famous goat head-topped helmet, the original of which is on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The memorial building was designed by Pirro Vaso and Pranvera Hoxha.
Gallery
File:Kalaja ne Kruje.jpg|The National Museum "Gergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu" at the Krujë Castle
File:Kalaja e Krujës 02.jpg|Medieval cannons
File:Skanderbeg Museum (2).JPG|Front entrance of the museum
File:Skanderbeg and his warriors in skanderbeg museum, Kruje.JPG|Skanderbeg and his warriors inside the museum
File:Museo Skanderbeg, Kruja, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 06.jpg|The rear entrance of the museum
File:Museo Skanderbeg, Kruja, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 01.jpg|Museum exterior
File:Kruje Albania (3940022678).jpg|A mural
File:Skanderbeg Museum (4).JPG|A quote of Skanderbeg
File:Sculpture of Mamica Kastrioti in Skanderbeg Museum.JPG|A sculpture of Mamica Kastrioti
File:Skanderbeg Museum mosaic.jpg|A mosaic
File:Skanderbeg Museum mural 1.jpg|Part of a mural depicting Skanderbeg and his troops
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|National Museum "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"}}
- [http://www.muzeumetkruje.gov.al/ Official Website]
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Category:History museums in Albania
Category:Biographical museums in Europe