Castle of Androussa

The medieval castle in Androussa, Messinia is 21 km from Kalamata. It was built in the 13th century and played an important role throughout its history as it controlled the fertile plain of Messenia. The enclosure is trapezoidal and the walls are reinforced with towers.

Photos

Androussa castle stands on the western edges of the Messinian plain and is about 21 km from Kalamata. The site is not naturally fortified, but it allows the castle to overlook and control the whole area.

Androussa has a had a “international” history. The 14th century history text, the "Chronicle of the Moreas", tells us the castle was built by the Frankish Prince William II Villeardouino. Next in 1381, were the Spanish mercenaries the Navarrese Company (named after Navarre in Spain as most of the soldiers were from there) who had come to Greece as it consisted of small states founded by the Crusaders.  They took over power in the Principality of Achaia and initially had Androussa as their base. In 1417, the Paleologos family, the Byzantine rulers of the Despotate of Mystras, gained control of the castle. In 1462 it was occupied by Mohammed II the Conqueror, and from then on until the Greek Revolution it was conquered and reconquered endlessly by the Turks and the Venetians. 

During the Venetian occupation it was one of the most significant castles in the Peloponnese, even more important than Kalamata castle. Despite this, it suffered the same fate as most of them in that period -disrepair and abandonment. 

The layout of the castle follows the terrain and fortifications surround an approximately trapezoidal-shaped enclosure. The surviving walls are part of the original fortification, which must have covered about 20 acres. The walls are vertical, and one meter thick at their widest points with a defensive zone defended by ramparts. They are supported on pointed arches -a fortification technique which has been used since antiquity - and reinforced at regular intervals with towers of various shapes. One circular tower, two four-sided towers and one five-sided tower, all with arched windows, are still standing. Restoration work has been done on the walls and the northwest tower.

Location

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