| Further information |
The barony of Karytaina was established in 1205 by Geoffrey I de Villehardouin and remained in Frankish hands until 1320/5 when it was captured by the Byzantines. The Frankish castle of Karytaina was built at a strategic point on the top of a hill that dominates the valley through which both Gortyna rivers, the Lousios and the Alpheios, run at the crossroads between Gortynia and Messenia, Olympia and Elis. It has been suggested that the castle was built using spolia from the ancient acropolis of Vrenthi. At the foot of the hill on which the castle stands lies the medieval settlement of Karytaina. |
