Patra Castle

Department Archive
Collection Byzantine Research Fund
Reference No. BRF/02/01/10/005
Level Item
Place Patra
Dates 1905-1909
Donor/Creator Traquair, Mr Ramsay
Scope and Content The polygonal tower (interior view). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Further information Patra castle stands on the spur of a plateau above the coastline, and consists of an inner circuit, a massive inner enclosure keep in the north-east corner and an impressive seven-sided tower at the south-east angle built in alternating courses of brick poros and limestone strongly reminiscent of Byzantine masonry. The circuit is surrounded by a narrow terrace and a ditch round the north, east and south flanks. The main gate is a large tower vaulted in brick with abundant classical fragments from the ancient acropolis, a second Frankish gateway with portcullis channel and a Turkish inner arch.