Restoration and Reinforcement project on the clock-tower, rounded tower and curtainwall

The Castle of Preza, strategically located near the capital, dates back to the 15th century and went through four historical phases of development. The 2019 earthquake severely damaged the castle’s north- eastern side, including the iconic clock tower. Thanks to financial support from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation and Sweden, along with assistance from the World Monuments Fund, Cultural Heritage without Borders Albania prepared and led the conservation project.

This restoration involved stabilizing and propping up the damaged towers, consulting historical records, and using local craftsmen to reconstruct the fortification wall, rounded tower, and clock tower. Innovative materials were employed for structural rehabilitation. Original stones were reused and collected from nearby collapsed buildings. Extensive geological tests helped understand the collapse mechanism in the case of the rounded tower. The project also made the monument more accessible and visitor-friendly, reinforcing the clock tower’s staircase and adding safety railings to the rounded tower’s terrace.

The restoration took place from April 2021 to April 2022, enhancing the castle’s resilience to future natural disasters. The restoration project for the Castle of Preza was awarded the BIG SEE 2023 award in Ljubljana in the category of Public Buildings.