LEROS - A walkers guide

The medieval castle View to Pandeli Agios Nikolaos
Walk to the castle
Platanos - Kastro - Pandeli
In the footsteps of the past.
This walk takes you to the historic
fortress of Kastro, past picturesque
windmills and through the idyllic fishing
village of Panteli.
Aghios
Nikolaos
Aghia
Paraskevi
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Kastro
Platanos
Marketplace
View to Pandeli
Pantelli
Beautiful view
Companions In the castle
Pebble mosaic
What you need:
Light footwear, water, provisions and
swimsuits depending on the season.
Duration: 3 hours
Category: Easy
Start in the small market square of
Platanos between the greengrocers
and the bakery. Follow the 20m narrow
street to a turning on the left. Here the
walk to the castle is signposted. Follow
the white arrows for approx.10 minutes
until you reach the “Agia Paraskevi”
Church. The footpath continues uphill,
winding its way up the mountain in graduated
steps. Enjoy the stunning views
of Agia Marina with its hustle and bustle
of ferries arriving and departing and
the azure Bay of Alinda. Upon reaching
the castle, keep to the right where a
small gate marks the entrance.
Dating from the Byzantine age, perched
at 154 m. above sea level, this
fortress has had a turbulent history.The
Maltese Knights of St. John extended
the original fortification, the Italians
and Germans entrenched themselves
within its sturdy structure and the Germans
finally bombed it during the last
stages of WWII. Yet it remains. A walk
along the imposing walls is well worthwhile.
The views across Agia Marina,
on one side, the fishing hamlet of Panteli
and the breathtaking Bay of Alinda
on the other, and those clear across
the strait to the mountains of Kalymnos
are truly spectacular. Surely just compensation
for the climb! On clear days,
even the monastery of Patmos can be
glimpsed.
On your descent via the mountain
road, take time to duck into the tiny
chapel of “Agios Nikolaos” perched
on the peak with its characteristic red
Bay at the windmills
Windmill Windmills
Port of Pandeli
mortar shells, then follow the road
around the mountain past the 6 restored,
white windmills down to the fishing
village of Pandeli.
Enjoy the rest of your day in one of the
many fish tavernas at the waterside.
CULTURAL TIP:
The
Panajia-Church
Inside the fortress walls, lies the Panajia
Church, one of the most popular and
loved churches among the locals.
According to legend, the icon of the
Madonna was washed up on the
shores of Leros and is said to possess
special powers.
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