Guarding a tall bluff above Pythio village (Empythion, in Byzantine times), this burly fortification on the border with Turkey is Thrace's only surviving example of Byzantine defensive architecture, and dates to the early 14th century. It was built by Emperor John Kantakouzenos to control the Evros plain during a turbulent period of civil wars and Turkish invasions. Reach the castle by driving 17km southeast of Orestiada on the old road following the Evros River.
Like armies of old, modern visitors may find the castle difficult to penetrate: it's frequently locked shut. You may be able to ask the caretaker for the key.
