Photos

This is a picture of the hill hosting the Mystras medieval castle as taken from the city's centre.

The most important group of buildings associated with the city's defence system are to be found within the Castle area. The wall with battlements and towers was built in 1249 by the Franklin prince, William II de Villehardouin. Later, it was repaired by Byzantines and Turks who also made additions to it. The main entrance is protected by a large square tower. Ruins of buildings erected during the Turkish occupation are scattered about the entire declivity extending between the outer enceinte and the southern section.

A strong still fairly well preserved round tower rises on the north-east side, near a large underground cistern which supplied the fortress with water in times of siege. The tower formed part of the fortification system of the castle and also served as a look-out post whence the movements of the population dwelling on the slopes of Taygetos could be observed. Both from this side of the hill and from the one overlooking Taygetos the rocky eminence of Mystra rises sheer from the ravine below and is thus rendered impregnable at this point.

Returning towards the tower, one encounters - just before reaching the tower- the entrance which pierces the second line of defence, and beyond which extends the highest and most inaccessible part of the castle. The building with the underground cistern served ad the residence of successive garrison commanders. A little higher up are the ruins of a twin chapel, one side of which is embedded in the southern battlements of the fortification wall.

This little edifice, the oldest at Mystra, existed before the Frankish conquest and the building of the castle. Still higher up, the west end of the ledge is crowned by the ruins of another round tower with an observation post overlooking the opposite slope of Taygetos, from which wild tribes of Melings, issuing out of their mountain fastnesses, would make sudden hostile irruptions.

The view from this part of the castle is superbly impressive. In front extends the Lacedemonean plain, across which flows the Eurotas, with Sparta in the middle; to the west tower the savage and grandiose contours of Taygetos; to the east the ruined city descends the hill, dotted with the outlines of a variety of charming churches and the shells of ancient mansions whose shattered masonry, pointing skywards, conjures up an image of human hands raised in prayer.

Closer Look