A small castle, totally ruined, on a low peak of the Aderes mountain range, at an elevation of 690m.

History

The history of the castle is unknown. Its total destruction does not allow a safe estimation of its origin.

Probably it was a Venetian construction of the late 15th century.
After the conquest of the Peloponnese by the Turks, the Venetians manged to keep the area of Ermionida in eastern Argolis with the treaty of 1481. They remained there until 1534 when, after the third Turco-Venetian war, they had to leave.

In the period 1481-1534 the Venetian administrative center was the castle of Thermisi while they tried to reinforce their defense. Perhaps the fort of Aderes (in direct visual contact with Thermisi) was one of the fortifications of this period.

In 1534, before leaving, the Venetians destroyed their castles in order not to be used by the Turks. It is possible that the little fort in Aderes got the same treatment, which explains why nothing is left of it.

Structure, Fortification & Buildings

The castle covers an area of half an acre in an ellipsoid layout measuring 30m and 25m. Today only a pile of stones remains of it. Among them, fragments of big vases. A tower considerably higher than the rest of the fort lied at its southern side. Parts of the foundations are visible at the north side to a height of 50cm.

The current condition, totally in ruins, is not normal; it is obviously an evidence of a deliberate destruction.

Sources