Rozafa Castle in Shkodra is one of the most important castles in Albania and the main tourist facility in the city of Shkodra. It rises on a rocky hill west of the city of Shkodra surrounded by the waters of the rivers Buna, Drin and Kir. On the sloping sides of the hill rise the surrounding walls which occupy an area of about 22.5 acres (9 hectares) of land. The castle has the main entrance from the northeast.
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The name of the Castle is associated with the legend of the wall. Built during the Illyrian Kingdom, it is represented by a legend that shows the keeping of a promise, of the legendary Albanian “Besa”.
Rozafa, the bride of the youngest of three brothers was walled up alive at the foundations of the castle, as a sacrifice to forever stop the evil eye that destroyed the walls every night.
Nowdays on the walls of the castle is engraved this moment, as the young mother breast-feeds her little son. The folklore is both amazing and touching. I invite you to read it below, translated from the original.
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The fog fell above Buna and covered everything. For three days and three nights this fog remained there. After three days and three nights a gentle breeze blew and lifted the fog. It led it to the hill of Valdanuz. At the top of the hill the three brothers were working. They were building a castle. But, the wall they put up during the day was broken down at night, so they could not buld it.
A good old man passes nearby.
– Good day, three brothers!
– Thank you, good old man. But where do you see our good? During the day we work, at night it collapses. Do you know any good words to tell us: what can we do to keep the walls up?
– I know – says the old man ~ But I am afraid to tell you because it is a sin.
– Put that sin on our heads, because we want to keep this castle up.
The good old man asks:
– Are the three of you married? Do you have all three of your wives?
– We are married – they say. – All three of us have our wives. So tell us what to do to keep this castle up?
– If you want it to stay, decide with besa-besë: do not talk about this with your wives, do not mention at home the words that I will say to you. The one of the three sisters-in-law who will bring you the food tomorrow, take it and mure it alive on the castle wall. Then you will see that the wall will stand strong for life and forever.
The old man said so and left: Now you see him, next moment you don’t.
Oh! The older brother broke his given word. He went at home, told his wife so and so, told her not to come there the next day. Even the middle one broke his given word: he told to his wife too. Only the little one kept his word: he did not spoke at home, he did not tell his wife.
Morning. The three get up quickly and go to work. The hammers break, the stones break, the hearts beat, the walls rise.
At home, the boys’ mother does not know anything. She says to the oldest daughter in law:
– My oldest bride, the craftsmen want bread and water; they want the pumkin with wine.
The big bride returns:
– Besa, mother, I can not go because I am sick.
Turns to the middle says:
– My middle bride, craftsmen need bread and water; they want the pumkin with wine.
– Besa, mother, I can not go, because I have to go to visit the relatives.
The boys’ mother turns to the little bride:
– My little bride …
The little bride stands up on her feet:
– Yes, mother!
– Craftsmen want bread and water; they want the pumkin with wine.
– Besa, mother, I can’t go, I have the little boy. I’m afraid he wants to have milk and cries.
– Go, go, we can look at the boy, we won’t leave him alone – the sisters-in-law say.
She gets up, takes bread and water, takes the pumpkin with the wine, kisses the boy on both cheeks, leaves and goes to Kazenë; there, she climbs the hill of Valdanuz, avites the place where the three craftsmen work: two of the brothers in law and her husband.
– Good job, masters!
What is it like?
The hammers stop and do not din, but the hearts beat faster and harder. The faces fade. When the little one sees his wife, he throws the hammer from his hand, curses the stone and the wall. His wife says:
– What is wrong, my lord? Why do you curse the stone and the wall?
The big brother-in-law says:
– You were born in a dark day, my sister-in-law. We have decided to mure you alive on the castle wall.
– As you say, brother-in-law. But, I will leave you a message: when you mure me up on the wall, leave my right eye out, my right hand out, my right leg out, my right breast out. For my son is little. When he starts to cry – I will look at him with one eye, caress him with one hand, shake his cradle with one foot and give him milk with one breast. May my breast be hardened, may the castle stand, may my son be brave, may he be king and reign!
They take the little bride and mure her at the base of the castle. And the walls rise, rise, do not collapse as before. The stones are still wet and mossy on them, because the mother’s tears for her son continue to drip …
And the son? The son grew up, fought and reigned. “
Photo Source: Wikipedia