Located in southeastern Albania, Gjirokaster became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005. It was awarded ‘museum-city’ status by the Albanian government in 1961 which gave legal protection to its unique architectural heritage. Home to 20th century native sons Enver Hoxha and writer Ismail Kadare, Gjirokaster is characterized by its houses of whitewashed stone and grey slate roofs built into the hillside. The city began to spread downhill from its castle in the 13th century. Later in the 15th century it was captured by the Ottomans and flourished under its new rulers as a major trading center and administrative headquarters of the province (sancak) spanning what is now central and southern Albania. By the 17th century the city had 2000 houses and a bazaar, which were later destroyed by fire. The city’s large traditional houses seen today were built in the early 1800s and the shops and other buildings date from the early 20th century. The castle still broods on its hill overlooking the whole city, the river valley and the Lunxheria mountain range. Unlike Kruje and Berat the citadel is uninhabited today but was used as a garrison and a prison as recently as the 1970s. Within the walls of the castle is a clock tower and plateau taken up by staging for the International Festival of Folk Music, which takes place there every four years (the last was in 2004).