Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: κάστρο

Larissa Castle ( Κάστρο Λάρισα ) - the ancient and medieval acropolis of the city of Argos - is located on the top of the Larissa hill on a height of 289 meters above the city of Argos. The first inhabitants of the area were the Pelasgians - pre-Hellenic people inhabiting parts of Greece - and the names "Argos" and "Larissa" are pelasgian. The meaning of the first was “valley” and of the latter “acropolis”. Τhe castle was created in the 6th century B.C. but there was a fortification there since prehistoric times and the epoch of the Pelasgians. The medieval castle was first built by the Byzantines in the 10th century. During the Byzantine period, the fortress was of strategic importance. In 1203, it came under the control of the archon of Nafplio. In 1212 it was captured by Othon de la Roche, the Bourgoundian Duke of Athens, and was controlled by the Franks until 1388. Between 1394 and 1463 it was occupied by the Venetians. In 1463 it was captured by the Turks and remained under their control until 1822, interrupted during 1686-1715, when Larissa came under the control of the Venetians. The site was liberated by the Greeks in 1822 during the Greek War of Independence. .

Chlemoutsi Castle (Κάστρο Χλεμούτσ) was founded in 1220-1223 by the ruler Godefridus I Villehardouin and was the strongest fortress of the Frankish principality of Achaia. Originally the castle was called “Château Clermont”, travellers referred to this incredible structure as “Castle Tornese” and the Byzantines called it “Chloumoutzi”. Built in a strategic position, with an extensive view of the plain of Ilia and the Ionian Sea, it protected the capital Andravida, the important harbour of Glarenza and the palace of the house of Villehardouin within the walls of the castle. The castle was equipped with a double fortification. The central part of the castle, which stands at the hilltop, was a two-storey hexagonal structure and housed the princely palace. The halls were arranged around a central courtyard. Chlemoutsi castle began to lose its important role in the defence of the region as early as the end of the Frankish occupation. In 1701 Grimani proposed its destruction. Its location did not serve the interests of the Venetians, which were related to the sea, and the already old castle required extensive work to repair and modernise it. Chlemoutsi remained in Turkish possession until the Greek War of Indepence of 1821. Chlemoutsi Castle still retains its strong Frankish character and remains one of the most important and best preserved fortresses in Greece and is an excellent example of the fortress architecture of the Frankish era in the Peloponnese. Nowadays some of the restored halls of the castle house a museum with about 500 objects on display (PiP5).

At the south edge of Methoni Castle a fortified islet floats. Bourtzi - as it is called - was built in the1500’s by the Venetians and is connected to the Sea Gate of the castle with a paved tiny road. At various times it was used as a fort, a prison, a lighthouse, and a refuge during periods of raids. Bourtzi consists of an octagonal tower, which is surrounded by a low octagonal wall. The tower is built on two levels and is covered with a semi-cylindrical dome. A four-sided cistern occupies its ground floor.

Methoni Castle - one of the most important fortress complexes in Greece - was built after 1209 by the Venetians, who at the time were occupying the area and were seeking to fortify the towns from piracy and rivals seeking to overtake their territories. It was the Venetians who began to build the castle, while during its occupation by the Franks and Ottomans, it unavoidably underwent their alterations. The castle reached its great prime during the 1st Venetian Rule, between the 13th and the 15th century, while its final decline came about around 1828, when its inhabitants were transferred outside the walls, leaving it to ruin. The Castle of Methoni covers an area of approximately 93,000 square metres and is divided into two parts. The south part is taken up by the city, which is surrounded by a simple wall, while the city’s fort lies at its northern part, with exterior fortification owing to its defensive purpose. The castle is separated from the land by a ditch and can be reached by a stone bridge with 14 arches.

The castle of Kalamata is situated on a hilltop northwest of the modern city. It was originally constructed during the Byzantine times and even an ancient acropolis before the Trojan War. In the beginning of the 13th century Gottfried A Villard, Frank prince and founder of the Principality of Achaea, conducted a large reconstruction of the castle, which resulted to its present form of a typical Byzantine fort. A shelter-like tower with a vaulted cistern is situated on the wall’s steepest side. There are two fortification zones: the hilltop was protected by the inner fortificationline, while a second outer fortification zone surrounded the accessible and more vulnerable east side of the castle. The fortification walls were developed following the natural terrain and bore bastions, not preserved today. During the second Venetian occupation, which lasted from 1685 to 1715, new alterations and repairs took place. Among them stands out the reconstruction of the East Gate, where was immured a slab bearing a winged lion, landmark of Venice. In 1825 the castle suffered extended destructions caused by the Ottoman army. In the 6th century a chuch was built in the castle devoted to Virgin Mary. An icon of here in the church became famous as Kalomata (= “beautiful eyes”). This later evolved to “Kalamata”, which became the name of the church, castle and city.