Platamonas Castle

Platamon Castle is a medieval fortress in northern Greece, southeast of Mount Olympus. It controls the exit of the Tempe valley and the road linking Macedonia with Thessaly and southern Greece. According to Wikipedia it was built as a Crusader castle between 1204 and 1222; Lonely Planet points to older traces and dates the main tower to the 14th century. In 1425 the Venetians briefly took it from the Ottomans, and in 1427 it fell back.

The walls are 7.5 to 9.5 metres high and well preserved except for a destroyed section in the east. The keep in the west is closed to visitors, but parts of the walls can be walked, and the north-eastern edge looks over Skotina beach and Mount Olympus. You will also find cisterns, cannons and the richly painted chapel of Agia Paraskevi, the only fully intact building.

From the car park a hilly path of about 150 metres leads to the gate. In summer the acropolis hosts events of the Olympus Festival. Check opening hours and admission in advance.