Information
Landmark: Zekate HouseCity: Gjirokaster
Country: Albania
Continent: Europe
Zekate House, Gjirokaster, Albania, Europe
Overview
The Zekate House stands as one of Gjirokastër’s finest treasures, a beautifully preserved gem of Ottoman-era design with stone walls that seem to hold centuries of quiet stories.In the early 1800s, the Zekate family built this grand tower house-known locally as a kullë-a striking show of their wealth and rank, with carved wood balconies and sturdy stone walls that capture the grace and utility of Ottoman design.Built between 1812 and 1815 by Beqir Zeko, a wealthy Ottoman administrator, the Zekate House was both a family home and a show of power-a stone fortress rising over the town like a watchful sentry.Today, despite two centuries of weather and wear, it stands carefully preserved as a museum, where visitors can step inside its thick walls and glimpse daily life in the Ottoman era.Its design is that of a classic kullë, the sturdy tower houses once common across the region.Built for both protection and comfort, it boasts thick stone walls, narrow windows for keeping watch, and a hilltop perch with sweeping views of Gjirokastër and the Drino Valley shimmering below.The Zekate House rises three stories: the ground floor holds storage rooms and quarters for servants; the middle level offers extra storage and modest living spaces; the top floor, with its lofty ceilings, broad windows, and richly adorned interiors, was the family’s pride, where they welcomed and entertained guests.Inside, you’ll find a guest room with low, cushioned divans gathered around a central fireplace, and a family living room rich with carved woodwork and painted ceilings.Built-in cupboards, deep alcoves, and traditional hearths blend practicality with quiet elegance.Throughout the house, hand-carved ceilings, ornate door frames, and finely crafted furniture show off the woodworker’s art, while frescoes and painted motifs bring Ottoman style together with local craftsmanship.A covered balcony upstairs frames wide views of the city, the green hills, and the winding valleys beyond.The Zekate House stands as a striking example of Ottoman vernacular design, its layout revealing the era’s social hierarchy with separate areas for guests, family, and servants.Once a symbol of the Zekate family’s wealth and power in Gjirokastër, it now endures as a piece of living history and a proud part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage status.Preserving it keeps the region’s architectural and cultural traditions alive, letting visitors step into richly adorned rooms, trace a fingertip over carved wooden panels, and picture the bustle of the Zekate family’s daily life before stepping onto a balcony to take in sweeping views of Gjirokastër, the Drino Valley, and the surrounding mountains.With its carved stone arches and centuries of stories, this place is a must-see for anyone drawn to Albania’s past, Ottoman culture, or traditional architecture.Step through the door and you’re suddenly in another century, surrounded by the polished wood and quiet elegance of a bygone age.
