Kyparissia-castle history

It’s name, Kyparissia owes its name to Cypress tree. He was the son of Minyas, good hunter and friend of the God of music and light, Apollo. Sometime in the hunt, he killed a deer, since then, he melancholised. Before his death, Gods took pity on him and made him cypress.  That time were  many  cypresses at Kiparissia in the city that worshiped the God – friend of cypress, Apollo.

Kyparissia, worshiped except Apollo besides  the goddess of wisdom, Athena, which had the name “Cypress” Athena, whose temple was in fact the site of the temple of the Holy Trinity (said to be the altar of the Holy Temple founded on the ruins of an ancient column). The temple of Apollo must have been where it is today the chapel of St. George, near the entrance of the railway station. They also worshiped the God Dionysus.

Seeking the roots, we find the first references to Kyparisia the poems of Homer. Even the great traveller and geographer of antiquity Pausanias passed by Kyparissienta and made reports, including in Dionysias source (current Ai Lagoudis) on the waterfront. The roads, the old cobblestone streets that form a unique in size (about 3 km) for Greece network of roads, the 14 old fountains of several seasons, the picturesque neighborhoods, examples of Byzantine and Venetian domination, the medieval urban fabric and clusters of dilapidated houses, old mansions and Venetian castle are called the Old Town, with cobblestone streets.

The organization, the Grand narrows, and the flea market antiques and old objects, is being hosted each year from 2 to 7 August in the Old City of Kyparissia.

Above the traditional village of Old Town, dominated by the imposing Kyparissia-castle history or Castle of Arcadia, from the 10th or 11th  centuries, which is the jewel of the city. Renamed as Castle of Arcadia when the Arcadians left the barren land they lived till then to inhabit the coastal area.

Because of its location, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view across the surrounding area. Due to the size of the materials used for the building of (stones length of four meters and half feet wide) in the mythology named, as the castle of giants. The castle is built Frankish though the course of history, the castle passed into the hands of various peoples.

The castle was rebuilt by the Franks, was disproved by the Byzantines and later expanded by the Turks and the Venetians. In 1830 or so, after the battle of Navarino, the castle passed into the hands of the Greeks. Today in the castle, except the fort survived the tower on the east side which is called the “Tower of Justinian,” the battlements, the cannon on the balcony of the castle, arch, the hatch… Around 1970, in the interior of the castle built open air,  theater, which has hosted many cultural events.

During the summer months there is refreshment for the guests of the castle and hosts many cultural events.