The Crusader castle built between 1204 and 1222 is located in a strategic position that controls the exit of the Tempe valley southeast of Mount Olympus. The castle (🎫 3 EUR till 15:30) is at the location of the ancient city of Heraclea, most probably, there was already a Byzantine castle there, since the 10th century. After the fall of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade in 1204, Platamon came under the jurisdiction of Boniface of Montferrat, king of Thessaloniki who gave it to the Lombard knight Rolando Piska. He is the one who rebuilt the castle on top of the old ruined construction. The castle changed rulers many times over the years. During World War II, in April 1941, a unit of New Zealanders tried to defend Platamon but was forced to leave after the bombardment of the castle by the Germans.
Parking location – Platamonas: 40.004120N 22.595679E