The fortress-paradox: appearing against the wishes of the locals, it became a territory of heroism and glory of the Cretans.
The fortress is a paradox: appearing against the wishes of the locals, it became a territory of heroism and glory of the Cretans. Periods of decline and revival are prescribed for it in the "book of architectural destinies". Today is the "era of the rise." So, go and see how the majestic and eternal fortress of Frangokastello is being rebuilt from ruins and ruins...
And why, pray tell, are the invaders always displeased when they try to be pushed back? How many facts does the history know about when the "conqueror" who "wrested" a piece of territory from another country builds stone walls, digs ditches almost as deep as magma, trying to protect himself from his own conquerors? This is roughly the situation the island of Crete owes to the construction of its gods. The fortress of Frangokastello in Venice was built on the island of Crete.
And it went something like this. During the third Venetian period (13th century) the local population, understandably, was not excited about another conquest by the Venetians, who decided to rule over them again. The Venetians were not, of course, happy about another conquest by the Venetians and decided to rule over them again.
And the pirates ran amok, plundering not only at sea, but also on land. From time to time they made unprecedented raids on the possessions of the Venetian barons. You know, it is quite understandable - the unhappy subjugated Cretans could no longer be taken even a shred of wool.
So the new masters, the barons of Chania, turned to their leadership, to the Senate, with the lowest request to allocate money for the construction of a fortress near the village of Chora Sfakion. And what do you think - the funds were not given to them - as if the treasury is not so rich, to save your heads behind the fortress walls.
You may ask, why exactly there they wanted to build a fortress? Because it was in the south-west of Crete, they say, that Zeus himself was born. And he was known to be very naughty and he left the decent earthly offspring, which settled this part of the island. Who knows, whether it was the climate, or genes, or three dozen other reasons that led to the fact that the most freedom-loving Greeks lived there.
But back to the barons... As the situation was heating up, they decided to build the "fortress of St. Nikita" or the "castle of the Franks", Frangokastello, as the Cretans pejoratively called it, understanding the word "Franks" to mean Catholics.
It was in 1371. By the way, the locals even in spite of the guards, hindered the construction in every way: what was being built during the day, they, to a large extent, dismantled at night. Maybe that's why the process dragged on for 3 years. Do you think it was not long enough? Well, hardly, if you remember how important was this strategic facility.
Though the Frangokastello fortress in Crete appeared against the wish of the native population, today you have the possibility to admire a splendid "diamond" in the "crown" of the medieval architectural defense masterpieces of Greece.
