Medieval castle of Lardos #1163

Description

Since the castle is not mentioned in the archives of the Order of St. John, there is speculation that it may have existed before the era of the Knights, though this remains uncertain.

The village of Lardos is located about 4 km west of Lindos, away from the coast. Just over 1 km from the village center, the castle sits on a narrow hill spur, separated from the gradually rising plateau by a moat.

Due to the castle's position on unstable ground, significant erosion has occurred over time, especially after the site was abandoned. Additional damage was caused by the construction of a road that cuts across the hill. Large sections of the castle’s outer wall, or enceinte, are now missing, and stone robbery—where stones were removed for use as building material—appears to have contributed to its degradation.

The castle is situated on a flat spur of the plateau, elevated above a deeply cut road, which would have limited its defensibility during an artillery-based siege. The layout of the castle is irregular, shaped by the natural contours of the land. On the south side, above the moat, stands a 30-meter-long section of the wall, flanked by two square towers. The wall is about 1.65 meters thick at the base, preserved up to a battlement parapet that is 0.5 meters thick. The masonry exhibits various techniques, including “half” opus spicatum and orthostats.