Medieval castles in Greece
Pythion Castle
The castle at Pythio, one of the most important and best preserved examples of military architecture in Greece. It is set on a low mound at the north-eastern edge of the village Pythio, near river Evros, very close to the Turkish borders. The castle was founded by John Kantakouzenos (later an emperor) around 1330-1340. It served as residense and stronghold during the civil war against the emperor John III Palaiologus. Th ...
Founded: 1330-1340 |
Location:
Pythion, Greece
Kastro
Kastro is a small village in the Greek island of Thassos. It is believed to be the oldest village on the island. The village name comes from the old castle that existed here to protect the inhabitants. The settlement was first mentioned in 1434 in connection with the establishment of a local fortress or citadel by Umberto Grimaldi, when Thassos was ruled by the Genoese Dorino I Gattilusio. The ruins of the citadel"s ...
Founded: c. 1434 |
Location:
Thasos, Greece
Kremasti Castle
Kremasti Castle looks more like a tower-house than a real castle. Of square plan, it covers an area of 400 square metres and has a perimeter of 80 metres. The only entrance was on the north side. In 1914, the Italian medievalist G. Gerola discovered there the arms of grand master Fabrizio del Carretto (1513-1521) and of the Order of St. John. The castle was a control point and in the line of sight of Phileremos castle. I ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Kremasti, Greece
Pantokratoras Monastery
Pantokratoras monastery, standing on the summit of the mountain of the same name, enjoys scenic views of the entire island of Corfu, the surrounding islands and the mainland. The first construction was built in 1347 and destroyed in 1537, while the building we admire today dates back to the late 17th century. Besides the stone church there are portico and inner courtyards. Entering in the monastery you have not a feeling ...
Founded: 1347 |
Location:
Corfu, Greece
Lardos Castle
Lardos castle was built sometime in the 12th century, during the Byzantine era. When the Knights of the Order of St. John invaded the island in 1309, one of their immediate priorities was to locate ideal sites on which they could erect forts so that they could be used as lookout posts over the sea, but also to protect the soldiers from the enemy. When they came to Lardos, they discovered an entire fort from the Byzantine ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Lardos, Greece
Avantas Castle
On the outskirts of Alexandroupoli, close to the village of Avantas, lie the medieval castles of Avantas and Potamos. Three different historic eras coexist on those walls, namely the Mycenaean, Classical and the Byzantine era. Both these castles supervised the field and controlled the passages towards the plains of Komotini and inland of the Rodopi mountain range. Both constructions date to the second half of the 13th ce ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Evros, Greece