Chlemoutsi, Medieval castle in Kastro, Greece
Chlemoutsi is a medieval castle built on a high hilltop with strong stone walls surrounding the entire structure. Inside, a six-sided central tower connects to arched rooms that face an open courtyard in the middle.
The castle was built in the early 1220s by French Crusaders as their main fortress to defend the region they controlled. It remained a key military post for centuries after its construction.
The castle's name has Byzantine roots and its design shows French medieval building methods from when Crusaders ruled the region. Visitors can see today how two cultures met in the stone walls and rooms.
The site is easy to reach on foot and has walkways through the ruins plus a small museum with information inside. It helps to check opening hours ahead of your visit since times change with the seasons.
Despite its long history, the fortress was never seriously attacked or taken over, making it a rare example of an undamaged Crusader-built structure. This fact helped it keep its original shape across the centuries.
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