477-484

The castle at Gynaikokastro : works of the years 2007-2008

• Τοκμακίδου, Αθηνά
• Ξανθός, Βασίλειος

The castle of Gynaikokastro is one of the most important fortresses of the Palaeologan period. It was founded by the emperor Andronicus III Palaeologus after his enthronement in 1328, for protection of the geographical district of Thessaloniki from intruders.The castle is situated on the top of a hill (106 m. high) which is a natural fortress that, according to excavation finds, was first inhabited in the pre-Christian age.Its curtain wall is 614 m. long, and encloses an area of approximately 25,000 square metres. It was fortified with rectangular and semi-circular towers situated around the wall. A big part on the north and west side of it is in ruins. On the northeast side of the castle lies the citadel, which occupies an area of approximately 2,000 square metres, and bears extra fortification of rectangular shape. On its top there is two-storey tower (13.00x19.00 m.) with twin cisterns on its ground floor. Two gates led to the interior of the castle: the main gate on the southeast side and the postern gate, close to the northeast corner of the curtain wall. The main gate, which was protected by two bastions on each side of it, is almost completely destroyed.Αs a result of the excavations conducted by the 9th Ephoreia of Byzantine Antiquities between 1984 and 1993, the circumference of the curtain wall was precisely measured, the main gate to the castle was located, and remains of buildings came to light in the castle’s enclosure. Close examination of the tower of the citadel, which underwent systematic restoration work, revealed the existence of a chapel on one of the storeys.In the years 2007-2008, the 9th Ephoreia of Byzantine Antiquities received funding from the 3rd EU CSF, and conducted extensive repair work, in order to reconstruct and restore the castle, and to make it accessible to visitors. According to plan, the problematic parts of the walls were reconstructed and supported, the interior of the monument was reformed and, thus, well presented, and the road to the castle was improved. Furthermore, short term excavations, contacted along the eastern surrounding wall, revealed traces of preexisting buildings, below the enclosure’s foundation level. This fact, in relation with the recent dated finds, confirms the presence and activity of humans in the area at a time earlier than that of the Paleologean fortified settlement’s construction.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

φρούρια, Κιλκίς, συνέδρια

Περιέχει εικόνες