268 m
Frangokastello Beach
A wide sandy beach with shallow water right below a Venetian castle on the south coast.
Sandstrände · Sfakia
Festungen & Burgen
Frangokastello Fortress
Highlights & amenities
- Entry
- Free
About
A lonely Venetian fort on a sandy beach.
Frangokastello is a Venetian fortress on the south coast of Chania, standing alone on a flat plain right by the sea. It was built in 1371 to control the rebellious Sfakians and protect the coast from pirates. The name means "castle of the Franks", as the Cretans called all Westerners.
The castle has four square towers and walls in a rectangular shape. In 1828, during the Greek War of Independence, the Cretan leader Hatzimichalis Dalianis and around 385 men held out here against a huge Ottoman army and were killed. Legend says their ghosts, the Drosoulites, appear at dawn in late May, marching along the beach.
The fortress has been under restoration. The beach below is one of the most beautiful family beaches of the south coast.
Around Sfakia
- Nearest town: Chora Sfakion, about 12 km by road
- Nearest airport: Chania airport (CHQ), about 52 km by road
The west of Crete is the island at its most dramatic. Chania has the most beautiful Venetian old town on Crete, wrapped around a harbour with a lighthouse and a domed mosque. In the evening the narrow lanes of Splantzia and the old Jewish quarter fill up with tavernas and small bars. More about Chania
Worth seeing nearby
- Sfakia (Chora Sfakion)Dörfer & Städte · 9.5 km
- Imbros GorgeSchluchten · 9.6 km
- ImbrosDörfer & Städte · 10.8 km
- Antifonitria MonasteryKirchen & Klöster · 10.8 km
Things to do in Chania
Anreise
About 12 km from Chora Sfakion by road.
On the map
35.18167, 24.23653 · See on map
In der Nähe
Geheimtipp 654 m
Orthi Ammos Beach
A quiet beach next to Frangokastello with a huge sand dune rising behind it.
Versteckte Buchten · Sfakia
Geheimtipp 3.7 km
Koutelos Beach
A small, wild pebble beach east of Frangokastello with dark blue water.
Versteckte Buchten · Sfakia
Geheimtipp 7.2 km
Korakas Beach
A long, pebbly and peaceful beach below Rodakino, with caves on the east side.
Versteckte Buchten · Agios Vasileios
7.2 km
Rodakino Beach
A quiet beach of coarse sand and pebbles with tamarisk shade, west of Plakias.
Sandstrände · Agios Vasileios
Geheimtipp 7.3 km
Filaki Beach
A secluded pebble beach near Chora Sfakion, one of the few official naturist beaches on Crete.
Versteckte Buchten · Sfakia
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