Kyparissia Castle, Kyparissia, Greece

According to researchers, the Castle of Kyparissia was built by Frankish people on the site of a previous Byzantine fortress.

The Byzantines had built four bulwarks at the four corners of the castle, but only one is preserved today, which is named Ioustinianos, after the great Byzantine emperor. The Franks attacked the Castle in the 13th century and kept it under their control for two centuries. As it is built on a hill overlooking the whole town and bay of Kyparissia, this Castle was a watch outpost for enemies and pirates.

In 1460, the Castle of Kyparissia was conquered by the Turks, until the 1820s, when the Greek War of Independence set the town free. However, due to the battles that have occurred, the Castle has been greatly damaged. Most of the bulwarks, the walls, the cisterns, and the storehouses have been destroyed either by attacks or from the gradual decay.

In 1970, there was an effort by the Greek government to restore the Castle. A small open-air theatre was built, which now hosts occasionally a number of cultural events, such as musical concerts, poetry nights and ancient tragedies. In summer, there is a refreshment stand where you can enjoy a cool drink while you see the great view of the surrounding area.

References:

greeka.com

User Reviews

Catrin Kwpa (2 years ago)
I liked the service...coffee is great...view is wonderful ....I always like going there but the last time I went the croissant that I ordered was like rubber....didn't taste good and paid 5.50 euro (i ordered two)...it was a filled croissant with brios....poorly made...a club sandwich I ordered elsewhere was 6.00 euros.....please be careful what price you put and what you serve cause I really like going there and the service is very good.

Marius Neu (2 years ago)
Open as seen in the picture, but this is greece... no promises haha So canon can be reached, hole in the wall not, due to construction conditions. Entrance is free Parking right in the front is small, nice coffee shop next to it

dIrTy MeXiCaLi (2 years ago)
Very nice walk around old town, ending to the castle. The castle also known as the Castle of Arcadia, which is the medieval name of the town. It is one of the most known sights in Kyparissia and stands as a stronghold of the entire municipality. According to researchers, the Castle of Kyparissia was built by Frankish people on the site of a previous Byzantine fortress.

John Roussos (5 years ago)
Nice view, very good preserved (about 800 years old), free entry ,but it needs a couple of minutes to get here from Kyparissia and has very big stairs.

Lavinia Georgiana (6 years ago)
Perfect place to enjoy the sunset and take panoramic photos of the city. The paths are slippery in some areas, and steep, better wear adequate shoes if you want to explore a little bit.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Infomastern

Historic Site of the week

Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

Kyparissia Castle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Visby Cathedral