Patra Castle

Department Archive
Collection Byzantine Research Fund
Reference No. BRF/02/01/10/002
Level Item
Place Patra
Dates 1905-1909
Donor/Creator Traquair, Mr Ramsay
Scope and Content General view of the east end. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back: 'Polygonal Tower and West End of Castle Patras'.
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.