Kastrologos

Castles of Greece
 

Ano Lechonia, Volos, Magnesia,Thessaly

Palaiokastro of Lechonia

or Karabasiotiko Kastri  
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Location:
On the slopes of a low hill NW of the village Ano Lechonia , in Pilion mountain, SE of Volos
Region > Prefecture: Greek Map
Thessaly
Magnesia
Municipality > Town:
City of Volos
• Ano Lechonia
Altitude:
Elevation ≈ 210 m 
(Relative Height≈100 m)
Time of Construction   Origin
mid 13th century  
Late-BYZANTINE
H 
Castle Type   Condition
Tower  
In Ruins
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Remnants of a medieval settlement and castle on a hill above the village Ano Lehonia of Pelion.


History

The settlement existed since the middle-Byzantine period and perhaps since the Roman era. It flourished in the late-Byzantine period when the area of Volos (Dimitrias) was ruled by the Byzantine noble family of Melissinos.

It is believed that the scattered ruins that we see today come from the beginning of that period, i.e. around the middle of the 13th century.

The settlement must have been abandoned around the time of the Ottoman conquest (1423).


Structure, Fortification & Buildings

The fortification consisted of double walls with square towers. Today only rubble of the walls remain. Part of one tower of the south wall still stands and is the only visible element from a distance.


First entry in Kastrologos:    November 2015

Sources

  • Website ΑΝΩ ΛΕΧΩΝΙΑ-ΠΗΛΙΟ - Κάστρο - Παλιόκαστρο των Λεχωνίων
  • Article by K.Liapis in the local newspaper «ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΑ», 5 September 2004
  • Alfred Mezières , Mémoire sur le Pélion et l' Ossa Paris  (1853 ), available online
  • Information sent by Mr. Ioannis Dedes
  • Photos: Kastrologos, July 2020