Kilia Fortress, Medieval fortress in Kiliia, Ukraine
Kilia Fortress stands on the left bank of the Danube River in southern Bessarabia with surviving tower structures showing its former military role. The site originally included fortifications that controlled river traffic and monitored the movement of goods passing through.
The site began as a Greek fortress called Achillea and was later renamed Licostomo by Genoese traders. It became contested between Moldavian, Hungarian, and Ottoman powers before falling under Ottoman control in 1484.
The name Kilia comes from Greek and refers to grain storage, showing the place was an important trading hub. Its location on the river made it a meeting point where merchants and different peoples exchanged goods and ideas.
The fortress remains are located within private industrial property, which makes visiting quite difficult. It is best to check local conditions beforehand, as the site is used for industrial purposes and access is not guaranteed.
The fortress was known by different names throughout the medieval period, reflecting the changing control by different cultures at this strategic river location. Each ruling power left its own marks in how the fortifications were built and maintained.
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