Sentinel of Mount Olympus and history
On the southeastern slope of Mount Olympus stands the Byzantine Castle of Platamonas, one of the most well-preserved fortified castles in Northern Greece. This castle was located on the axis that connected Macedonia with Thessaly and Southern Greece, which explains its strategic importance. For centuries it protected trade routes, local populations and the important settlement that developed around it. Today, it is one of the most emblematic landmarks of Pieria.
The fortress was built in the early 13th century and retains all the basic characteristics of medieval fortification architecture. The outer walls, reinforced with towers at various locations, are preserved in excellent condition, revealing the breadth and strength of the castle. The subsequent interventions of the Franks and the Ottomans added new layers to its historical course. In the castle there were five chapels, of which only the church of Agia Paraskevi survives today. During the Ottoman period it had been converted into a mosque.
The top of the hill offers unobstructed views of the sea and the extensive beaches of Platamonas, while the image of the castle from below, like a "crown" on the hill, adds a medieval atmosphere to the natural landscape of Pieria.
Wander across the interior of the castle, discover traces of the old settlement, see the small temple and follow the route around the acropolis, which is suitable for most visitors. From its walls, the view to the Aegean Sea and the Thermaikos Gulf is unparalleled, while Mount Olympus rises behind the castle. A landscape that you will undoubtedly love, as it gives the feeling that the castle hovers between the mountain and the sea.
The fortress was built in the early 13th century and retains all the basic characteristics of medieval fortification architecture. The outer walls, reinforced with towers at various locations, are preserved in excellent condition, revealing the breadth and strength of the castle. The subsequent interventions of the Franks and the Ottomans added new layers to its historical course. In the castle there were five chapels, of which only the church of Agia Paraskevi survives today. During the Ottoman period it had been converted into a mosque.
The top of the hill offers unobstructed views of the sea and the extensive beaches of Platamonas, while the image of the castle from below, like a "crown" on the hill, adds a medieval atmosphere to the natural landscape of Pieria.
Wander across the interior of the castle, discover traces of the old settlement, see the small temple and follow the route around the acropolis, which is suitable for most visitors. From its walls, the view to the Aegean Sea and the Thermaikos Gulf is unparalleled, while Mount Olympus rises behind the castle. A landscape that you will undoubtedly love, as it gives the feeling that the castle hovers between the mountain and the sea.
