Frankish Castle of Molines #1109

Description

Locally, the castle is known as "Ntempriz," a name it shares with a well-preserved Venetian bridge located about 1,000 meters to the north. The name appears to be non-Greek, so we use the form "Debridge" as it likely originates from the bridge itself.

The castle is of Frankish origin, as indicated by its name and by historical records showing the area was under Frankish control until the 15th century. The Venetian-controlled territory of Avramio lay a little further south.

The medieval name of the castle was likely "Molines," and it is believed to have been built in the late 13th century. It could also correspond to the "Castemu" castle, reportedly built in 1402 near the village of Chastemi (modern Lefkochora).

Regardless of its original name, the territory came under Venetian control in 1423, possibly remaining so until around 1467 or, at the latest, 1500, when the Turks captured Koron, ending the first Venetian period in the Peloponnese.