House of Leaves

House of Leaves is one of Albania’s most interesting museums. It is regarded as the equivalent of the old East German Stasi headquarters. The leaves have a dual meaning: they represent things hidden in the woods, as well as the leaves of books and files on individuals. Those who want to see what was concealed at the legendary National Intelligence Service headquarters, commonly known as the House of Spies, will be left speechless.

The original home was constructed in 1931 with the main purpose of serving as a medical clinic. During World War II, while Germany was in control, it was utilized by the Gestapo. It was reclaimed by the Albanian communist dictatorship shortly after the war’s conclusion and used as a security office for investigations. Inside the home, you will learn about the darkest aspects of Albania’s totalitarian dictatorship, as well as the stories of hundreds of individuals who were punished for opposing the system.

The public was first made aware of the plan to turn the home into a museum in January 2015. It is located in the city center, just in front of Tirana’s Orthodox Cathedral and near to the National Bank of Albania.

The museum has been available to the public since May 23, 2017. The Council of Europe awarded the museum the European Museum of the Year Award 2020.