Remains of a castle on the low hill of Agia Paraskevi at the NW end of the village Pappados, west of the bay of Gera.

History

The fortification is medieval but of undetermined date. There are no reports from historical sources about it. Probably, like most fortifications in the interior of Lesbos, it has been originally built in the mid-Byzantine period and continued to be used at least until the Genoese period of the Gatelouzι (1355-1462).

It is very probable that the Pappados castle was in use for some time during the Tourkokratia as well, judging from its relatively better condition and the fact that it is in an easily accessible location.

Structure, Fortification & Buildings

The fortification extended on the slope of the hill in an area ​​87✖57 meters. Two towers and a few sections of the wall are preserved.
There is a tower in the south corner that is preserved at a height of about 4 meters. There is a part of the wall attached to it. Another part of the wall has remained above the church.

A second smaller tower is preserved, at a lower height, a little further north than the first tower.

Until a few decades ago, a third tower was saved, which was destroyed to use the stones as a building material.

On the ground floor of the first tower there was a large cistern with a vaulted roof.

Sources