Historical Royal Residences

The Royal Palace was commissioned by King Zog in 1936 to serve as the official residence of the Royal Family and Court. The Palace is situated near Tirana on a hill in Sauk, a few hundred meters from the Royal Mausoleum, on land owned by the Royal Family. It was initially designed by three Italian architects, including Giulio Berte and later by the Florentine Arch. Gherardo Bosio.
Architecturally, the Palace belongs to the monumental rationalism style and is unique in its genre, not only in Albania but in the wider sphere of Fascist architecture. The original Art Deco furniture remains untouched.
King Zog and Queen Geraldine never settled in the Palace, as was planned, after the birth of the Crown Prince, as Albania was invaded by the Italian Fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini on the 7th of April1939.
In October 2016, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess organized their wedding reception and the official wedding dinner within the premises of the Palace. Since then, they have held other activities there as well.
On the Palace grounds, just a few meters from the main building, stands the Queen Geraldine chapel. The chapel was renovated with the support of the Royal Family and friends in conjunction with the Albanian State.
Currently the palace is used as a government protocol residence and is partially open to the public.

The Castle in Burgajet, located in the Mat valley in central Albania, was best described as a solid rectangular building with two small wings facing into a courtyard, surrounded by high mountain peaks which acted as a natural defense.
The village of Burgajet, located approximately eleven kilometers from the city of Burrel, was an economic center of the valley, covering a large area of what has now become the commune of Lis.
The village used to boast 600 homes, with the famous Zogolli Sarajet (castle) controlling the surrounding hills from above. The Castle’s name possibly comes from the German crusader origins meaning the "City of Life".
The Castle was set on fire twice by invaders at the beginning of the 20th century, and King Zog was never able to fully reconstruct it before the 1939 fascist invasion and the eventual exile of the Royal Family.
In 1945 the communist dictator, Enver Hoxha, ordered the castle to be demolished. The hillside is thus stripped of any signs of its historical past. The castle’s marble stones were later used to build the sidewalks of the city of Burrel.
The Royal Family has since protected the grave of Xhemal Pasha Zogu (King Zogs late father) and there are plans by the family to build a museum and home on the site.

The Royal Residence in Tirana was commissioned by King Zog in 1929 and designed by the Austrian architect “Kohler”. Located in the centre of the capital city, it is currently the main residence of the Royal Family.
The residence has a complex architectural design of exceptional beauty. Its’ mosaics and original floorings are Italian and in perfect condition.
In 2006 the residence was returned to the Royal Family by the State Lands Commission. Within the Royal Compound there is a restaurant open to the public and offices.

The Villa is situated near the shore of Lake Shkoder and is surrounded by tall pine trees. The villa was a gift from the merchants of Shkoder to King Zog.
His Majesty was known to have stayed only one night in the villa because of security concerns due to its proximity to the Montenegrin border.
In 1997 the villa was vandalized as Albania went through a period of anarchy. The Royal Family is currently seeking the return of the Villa through the Albanian State Lands Commission and the Judicial Courts.

The Royal Mausoleum is located within the Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake. It was designed by Qemal Butka and first inaugurated on the 30th of December 1935, approximately one year after the death of the Queen Mother Sadije Toptani, who died on the 24th of November 1934.
The Mausoleum was firstly damaged by the communists’ partisans First Brigade after the occupation of Tirana, on the 17th of November 1944. It was later demolished by the communist regime in the 1950s.
A replica of the Mausoleum was built by the Albanian Government and inaugurated on the 17th of November 2012 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Albanian Independence.
It now accommodates the remains of the Queen Mother Sadije Toptani, King Zog, Queen Geraldine, King Leka and Queen Susan.
The Mausoleum represents the religious harmony, tolerance and coexistence which characterizes’ the Albanian Nation and the Royal Family.

The Summer Palace in Durres was designed by the Albanian architect Kristo Sotiri. Construction on the Palace was completed in 1927, with additional works completed in 1937, a few months before King Zog married Queen Geraldine.
The Palace was given to King Zog as a gift by the merchants of Durres as a gesture of good fortune and prosperity. The Palace was built in the form of an eagle, constructed on the highest point of the port city, peering towards Italy. It is famous for its Blue marble staircase and large ballroom.
Although horribly damaged during the 1997 riots, it remains a symbol of the Monarchy and a valued cultural heritage building.
40 Historical dates of the Royal family and King Zog

- 1895
8th of October, Burgajet Mati, Ahmet Xhemal Zogu was born
8th of October, Burgajet Mati, Ahmet Xhemal Zogu was born
October 8, 1895 - 1903
Zogu studied at the Galatasaray School in Istanbul
Zogu studied at the Galatasaray School in Istanbul
January 1, 1903 - 1908
his father Xhemal Pasha Zogu died
his father Xhemal Pasha Zogu died
January 1, 1908 - 1911
Zogu returned to Albania to lead a revolt against the Ottoman occupiers
Zogu returned to Albania to lead a revolt against the Ottoman occupiers
January 1, 1911 - 1912
Zogu took part in the Albanian decoration of independence, as a delegate
Zogu took part in the Albanian decoration of independence, as a delegate
January 1, 1912 - 1912
Zogu battled the Montenegrin army in the hills of Kakarriqit
Zogu battled the Montenegrin army in the hills of Kakarriqit
January 1, 1912 - 1915
6th of August, Budapest, Queen Geraldine of the Albanians is born
6th of August, Budapest, Queen Geraldine of the Albanians is born
January 1, 1915 - 1916
3rd of March, Zogu declared a national congress against all invaders
3rd of March, Zogu declared a national congress against all invaders
January 1, 1916 - 1916
December, Zogu attended the Coronation of Charles I, the Kaiser (Emperor) of Austria and King of Hungary
December, Zogu attended the Coronation of Charles I, the Kaiser (Emperor) of Austria and King of Hungary
January 1, 1916 - 1920
21-31 January, Zogu took part in the Conference of Lushnje and was made Minister of Interior
21-31 January, Zogu took part in the Conference of Lushnje and was made Minister of Interior
January 1, 1920 - 1921
April, Zogu was voted a deputy in Albania’s First free elections
April, Zogu was voted a deputy in Albania’s First free elections
January 1, 1921 - 1921
4th November, Zogu was named the commander of operations of eastern Albania against the Kingdom of Serbia
4th November, Zogu was named the commander of operations of eastern Albania against the Kingdom of Serbia
January 1, 1921 - 1923
December, Zogu was voted in as a member of the Constitutional Assembly
December, Zogu was voted in as a member of the Constitutional Assembly
January 1, 1923 - 1923
2nd of December, Zogu becomes Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior
2nd of December, Zogu becomes Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior
January 1, 1923 - 1924
25th of February, Zogu resigned as Prime minister two days after an assassination attempt on his life
25th of February, Zogu resigned as Prime minister two days after an assassination attempt on his life
January 1, 1924 - 1924
10th of June, after the uprising of Fan Noli, Zogu is forced into exile
10th of June, after the uprising of Fan Noli, Zogu is forced into exile
January 1, 1924 - 1924
24th of December, Zogu returns to Tirana with the Triumph of Legality movement
24th of December, Zogu returns to Tirana with the Triumph of Legality movement
January 1, 1924 - 1925
31st January, Ahmet Zogu is declared President of the Albanian Republic
31st January, Ahmet Zogu is declared President of the Albanian Republic
January 1, 1925 - 1928
1st of September, the national assembly declares Albania a Constitutional Monarchy, Ahmet Zogu took the title of King Zog of the Albanians
1st of September, the national assembly declares Albania a Constitutional Monarchy, Ahmet Zogu took the title of King Zog of the Albanians
January 1, 1928 - 1931
20th of February, King Zog survived an attempt on his life in Vienna
20th of February, King Zog survived an attempt on his life in Vienna
January 1, 1931 - 1934
25th of November, Queen Sadije, the Queen Mother, died at Durrës from congestion of the lungs. She was aged 58
25th of November, Queen Sadije, the Queen Mother, died at Durrës from congestion of the lungs. She was aged 58
January 1, 1934 - 1936
12th of January, Princess Senije married Prince Abid of Turkey
12th of January, Princess Senije married Prince Abid of Turkey
January 1, 1936 - 1938
27th of April, King Zog married Countess Geraldine Apponyi
27th of April, King Zog married Countess Geraldine Apponyi
January 1, 1938 - 1939
5th of April, Crown Prince Leka is born (later H.M. King Leka).
5th of April, Crown Prince Leka is born (later H.M. King Leka).
January 1, 1939 - 1939
7th of April, the Italian Fascists invaded Albania
7th of April, the Italian Fascists invaded Albania
January 1, 1939 - 1939
9th of April, King Zog is forced to exile
9th of April, King Zog is forced to exile
January 1, 1939 - 1940
27th of June, The Royal Family leaves for England from near the port of Bordeaux. Ian Fleming (later a famous author) helped facilitate the travel details
27th of June, The Royal Family leaves for England from near the port of Bordeaux. Ian Fleming (later a famous author) helped facilitate the travel details
January 1, 1940 - 1946
January, the Royal Family left England for Egypt
January, the Royal Family left England for Egypt
January 1, 1946 - 1961
9th of April, King Zog died in Paris
9th of April, King Zog died in Paris
January 1, 1961 - 1961
15th April, Prince Leka is declared King Leka of the Albanians
15th April, Prince Leka is declared King Leka of the Albanians
January 1, 1961 - 1975
7th of October, King Leka married Susan Cullen-Ward
7th of October, King Leka married Susan Cullen-Ward
January 1, 1975 - 1975
10th of October, The Royal wedding takes place in Madrid
10th of October, The Royal wedding takes place in Madrid
January 1, 1975 - 1982
26th of March, Prince Leka II was born in Johannesburg
26th of March, Prince Leka II was born in Johannesburg
January 1, 1982 - 1993
19th of November, King Leka returned to Albania for 24hours, after 54 years in exile
19th of November, King Leka returned to Albania for 24hours, after 54 years in exile
January 1, 1993 - 1997
29th of June, a Referendum on the restoration of the Monarchy was held
29th of June, a Referendum on the restoration of the Monarchy was held
January 1, 1997 - 2002
28th of June, Queen Geraldine and the Royal Family returned to Albania from South Africa
28th of June, Queen Geraldine and the Royal Family returned to Albania from South Africa
January 1, 2002 - 2002
22nd of October, Queen Geraldine died in Tirana
22nd of October, Queen Geraldine died in Tirana
January 1, 2002 - 2004
17th July, Queen Susan died in Tirana
17th July, Queen Susan died in Tirana
January 1, 2004 - 2010
16th of June, Crown Prince Leka announced his engagement to Miss Elia Zaharia, in Paris, France
16th of June, Crown Prince Leka announced his engagement to Miss Elia Zaharia, in Paris, France
January 1, 2010 - 2011
30th November, King Leka I of the Albanians died in Tirana
30th November, King Leka I of the Albanians died in Tirana
January 1, 2011 - 2012
15th of November, King Zog’s body was exhumed from the Thiais cemetery, Paris. An honor guard was provided by the French President
15th of November, King Zog’s body was exhumed from the Thiais cemetery, Paris. An honor guard was provided by the French President
January 1, 2012 - 2012
17th November, King Zog’s remains were returned to Albania, to coincide with Albania’s centennial independence celebrations
17th November, King Zog’s remains were returned to Albania, to coincide with Albania’s centennial independence celebrations
January 1, 2012 - 2016
8th of October, Crown Prince Leka II married Miss Elia Zaharia at the Royal Palace in Tirana
8th of October, Crown Prince Leka II married Miss Elia Zaharia at the Royal Palace in Tirana
January 1, 2016