Patras Castle

Coordinates: 38°14′42″N 21°44′30″E / 38.2450°N 21.7418°E / 38.2450; 21.7418
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The castle from up close

The Patras Castle (Greek: Κάστρο Πατρών) was built around the mid-6th century AD above the ruins of the ancient acropolis of the city of Patras, on a low outlying hill of the Panachaiko Mountain and ca. 800 m from the sea. The castle covers 22,725 m² and consists of a triangular outer wall, strengthened by towers and gates and further protected originally by a moat, and an inner compound on the northeastern corner, also protected by a moat.

The first castle on the spot was built by

Byzantine emperor Justinian I after the catastrophic earthquake of 551, re-using building material from pre-Christian structures. One of these spolia, the torso and head of a marble Roman statue, became part of the city's folklore, a sort of genius loci
. It is known as the "Patrinella", a maiden who is supposed to have been transformed into a man during Ottoman times, guards the city against disease and weeps whenever a prominent citizen of Patras dies.

The fort remained in constant use thereafter, even until the

St Andrew
.

In 1205, in the aftermath of the

Tourkokratia. The Venetians took the castle in 1687 during the Morean War, and kept it until the Morea was retaken by the Turks in 1715, who called it Balya Badra.[2]

Following independence, the castle remained in use by the

Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities
. It is used nowadays for cultural events, especially during summer, and features a theatre with a capacity of 640 seats.

Gallery

  • View of the castle
    View of the castle
  • The castle as seen on a late 19th-century post card
    The castle as seen on a late 19th-century post card
  • Patras castle, 1890
    Patras castle, 1890
  • Overview
    Overview
  • The Greek flag flying from the highest point in the fortress
    The Greek flag flying from the highest point in the fortress
  • A tower
    A tower
  • A view of the keep
    A view of the keep
  • The entrance to the castle
    The entrance to the castle
  • Spolia in the castle walls
    Spolia in the castle walls
  • An elevation plan view for the blind
    An elevation plan view for the blind
  • The inner moat of the Patras Fortress
    The inner moat of the Patras Fortress

References

  1. ISBN 978-90-474-3303-3
    .
  2. ISBN 978-3-643-10658-2
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Patras Fortress.

38°14′42″N 21°44′30″E / 38.2450°N 21.7418°E / 38.2450; 21.7418

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