Rhodes Feraklos Castle

Location: Haraki

On the east coast of Rhodes, 37 kilometers from Rhodes Town, lie the ruins of the once-great Feraklos Castle. Built atop an 85-meter-high hill, it overlooks the bays of Haraki and Agathi, opposite the coast of Asia Minor.

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Built during the Byzantine period, its advantageous positioning afforded it a great strategic edge, which is why it was the first castle conquered by the Knights of the Order of Saint John on September 20th, 1306. Although it was already in a dilapidated state by the early 15th century, it was renovated and subsequently transformed into one of the Knights’ three strongholds on the island.

In 1445 the castle was able to herd off an attack from the invading force of the Ottoman Turks. Sieges from the Ottoman Empire continued to plague the castle, with the Knights of Saint John finding it harder and harder to protect it against their sheer power. In 1523, Suleiman the Magnificent managed to take over the castle, commanding the slaughter of all the residents. Since then, the castle has been abandoned and never used again, with residents fleeing from the surrounding areas.

Not much of the castle remains today, but it is still well worth the visit. Those wanting to reach the site of the castle will first pass by the small, picturesque village of Haraki. From there, a road leads up to the northwestern side, with a rocky path and a few steps taking you right up to its entrance. There you will take in the views of the dilated walls of the castle, with lush greenery growing throughout. Still preserved on the walls are the coats of arms of the Order of the Knights. Besides the ruins themselves, the panoramic views of the bays of Haraki and Agathi, as well as the village of Haraki, are exceptionally beautiful. It should be noted that the climb up and especially down the ruins can prove quite tricky, with some slippery spots and loose rocks present as well as a lack of handrails.