A medieval castle with a long history. It is on a hill dominating the city of Lamia in central Greece offering a panoramic view to the valley of Spercheios river, the peaks of mountains Oiti, Kallidromo, Orthys and Parnassus, and the Maliakos gulf.

The location was fortified since the 5th century BC and was continuously used as a fortress until the World War II.

The castle obtained its current form mainly during the occupation by the Francs and the Catalans (beginning of 13th to middle of 15th century). The Ottomans, later, added some buildings inside the castle.

History

The location was already fortified in the 5th century BC, according to the findings in the base of the walls of the castle.It is certain that it was in use during the early and middle Byzantine periods.

The castle is mentioned for the first time in the beginning of the 13th century, in a letter from Pope Innocent III.

In 1218, it was captured by the Byzantines of the Despotate of Epirus under Theodoros Komninos. In 1273, it was given as a dowry to the Burgundian Guillaume de La Roche who later became Duke of Athens (1280-1287).

The Francs of the Duchy of Athens were defeated by the troops of the Catalan Company, in the battle of Kopais (1311). After this, the castle remained in the hands of the Catalans until 1446 when it was captured by the Turks.

In 1832/33, after the Greek Revolution, the castle was liberated and was used as an army base until World War II..

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