Kastrologos

Castles of Greece
 

Karakallou monastery, Athos

Tower of Karakallou

  
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Location:
Karakallou monastery, Athos mountain
Region > Prefecture: Greek Map
Athos
Mount Athos
Municipality > Town:

• Karakallou monastery
Altitude:
Elevation ≈ 155 m 
Time of Construction   Origin
1535  
Post-BYZANTINE
H 
Castle Type   Condition
Castle-Monastery  
Good
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Karakallou monastery (Greek: Μονή Καρακάλλου) is a monastery at the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. It stands on the south-eastern side of the Athos peninsula. The monastery ranks eleventh in the hierarchy of the Athonite community.

It was founded in the 11th century. In the 14th century, as a result of the activity of pirates and Latins, Karakallou was totally deserted. It was rebuilt in the 16th century. Its benefactors in that period were Moldavian and Georgian rules.

The monastery which looks like a small castle in the forest, is dedicated to Apostles Peter and Paul.

The Great Tower dominates over the monastery. It was constructed in 1535 (or a little later) and it is one of the most beautiful and best preserved towers in the Holy Mountain.

The tower is 28 m high. The dimensions of the rectangular base are 10.0x8.5m and has 5 floors. The ground floor is a water tank, still in use for the supply of the fountain at the east side of the tower. At the 5th floor there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Anna.

In this tower, like in the towers of Dochiariou monastery and of Protato, there is a series of machicolations at each side of the upper part which apart from their role in the defense of the monastery, they served decorative purposes too.


First entry in Kastrologos:    November 2012

Sources

  • «Οχυρωματικοί πύργοι του 16ου αιώνα στις Μονές του Αγίου Όρους», Πασχάλης Ανδρούδης, Πρακτικά Στ’ Επιστημονικού Συνεδρίου "ΤΟ ΑΓΙΟΝ ΟΡΟΣ στον 15ο και 16ο ΑΙΩΝΑ", σελ.487, ΑΓΙΟΡΕΙΤΙΚΗ ΕΣΤΙΑ, Θεσσαλονίκη 2012