Makrynitsa Castle #1333

Description

This hill is part of the Mount Beles range.
The history of the castle is unknown, and it remains unidentified.

According to the Archaeological Bulletin of 1996 (issue 55-B2), small bronze artifacts and pottery fragments were discovered at the site, along with "two bronze coins of Justinian." Based on these findings, the bulletin notes, "the fort dates to the late Roman-early Christian times (early Byzantine period)." This suggests that the castle was in use during the 6th century, and may have existed as early as the 3rd or 4th century AD. Like many nearby castles, its habitation likely ended with the arrival of the Slavs and the barbarian raids of the 6th and 7th centuries.

The name "Monastery of Kalogria," which also refers to a nearby stream, implies that a monastery may have existed on the hill at some point. It is possible that the site was initially a castle or fortified settlement and was later converted into a monastery. However, this remains speculative, as dense vegetation has overgrown the hill, making it difficult to conduct a more thorough investigation.