Kalymnos, Kalymnos, Dodecanese,South Aegean
Castle of Chora of Kalymnos
or Megalo Kastro
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Aerial view of Kalymnos castle
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kalymnos01.jpg
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The krenelation from the knights’ era
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Chora from the castle
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(photo G.Syros)
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View from a battle position (photo G.Syros)
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(photo G.Syros)
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coat of arms-photo by Владимир Джевелеков
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coat of arms-photo by Владимир Джевелеков
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THE END
| Location: |
| Chora of Kalymnos island, Dodecanese |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| South Aegean Dodecanese | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Kalymnos • Kalymnos | |
| Altitude: | |
| Elevation ≈ 200 m |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| 11th century | BYZANTINE  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Fortress-state |
Not Good
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The Castle of Chora or Great Castle or Paleochora is one of the most famous attractions in Kalymnos. It is situated in the place where ancient Pothia once resided. It became the medieval capital of Kalymnos. The castle took its final form in 1495 and it was inhabited continuously until 1812.
History
The castle was initially built by the Byzantines in the 11th century. The main reason was the threatening activity of Tzachas, the Seljuk emir of Smyrna (on the Minor Asia coast) who was raiding the islands of the eastern Aegean,
Later, in 1495, the knights of St. John (who occupied Dodecanese from 1309 to 1522) gave to the castle its final form.
Gradually, from the mid-18th century, the risks that initially led the people into the castle (eg pirates) start to disappear, and as a consequence the population built new houses outside the castle, in Chora. The castle was abandoned in 1812 when the last inhabitant moved out.
| First entry in Kastrologos: | October 2012 |
Sources
- Website ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ -Greek Ministry of Culture Κάστρο Χώρας Καλύμνου (Greek only)
- Website Kalymnos Guide - Castles and Fortresses
- Photographs sent by Mr. George Syros
- Μιχάλης Κουτελλας, ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟΝ ΔΕΛΤΙΟΝ, τεύχος 54/Β2, 1999, σελ. 977-979
- Ελένη Παπαβασιλείου, ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟΝ ΔΕΛΤΙΟΝ, τεύχος 46/Β2, 1991, σελ. 511-513
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| Access from Pothia where a stairway with 230 steps starts. |
| Entrance: |
| ? |
