Avada castle #1089

Description

The shape of the rock resembles a horn when viewed from certain angles, leading to speculation that this may have been the Byzantine city of Kereopyrgos (or Cereopyrgos), though this has not been confirmed.

The castle has not been systematically studied, and its construction does not show distinct chronological phases. The masonry style does not aid in dating the structure, though surface finds, such as pottery fragments, date it to the 14th century.

Located close to another fortress known as Castle Potamou, this castle is believed to be considerably older. Both fortresses controlled an important passageway leading to the interior of Thrace and the Rhodope Mountains, as well as an alternative route to Constantinople that ran inland, north of the Egnatia Road.

Having two fortified structures in such close proximity is unusual. This could indicate that the passageway was of great strategic importance at one time, requiring additional fortification. Another possibility is that the castles belonged to rival local rulers, resulting in a competitive dynamic between the two sites.