Characteristics of Frangokastello

The seaside village of Frangokastello lies off the southern coast of Crete, about 80 km southeast of Chania and 55 km southwest of Rethymno. The village takes its name from the famous Venetian fortress of Frangokastello, which played an important role during the anti-Turkish uprisings. Today, its remains bring with them a bit of mystery.

The small village of Frangokastello is very elongated, stretching along the road, and so there is no centre to be found. Most of the locals continue to live their own peaceful way of life, but basic tourist services are available to visitors. There are several tavernas, cafes and small shops, and recently the number of rooms for rent has grown.

Frangokastello beach and fortress

Frangokastello is located on the southern side of the White Mountains, which is full of cypresses, cedars and a variety of herbs and spices. However, the area around the resort is very dry and the coastline is mostly sand dunes. However, you can visit several nice sandy beaches, the most famous of which is the eponymous Frangokastello beach. The beach is very suitable for small children thanks to its gradual entry into the sea and the warm, crystal clear water.

The dominant feature of Frangokastello beach and the whole village is the Venetian castle from 1371, of which the massive outer walls with defensive towers in each corner have been preserved. The history of this fortress is particularly interesting, especially the battle between Cretan rebels and Turkish soldiers in 1828, when the Cretan fighters were eventually defeated and slaughtered despite their courage and perseverance. It is said that their souls still wander here, and indeed male shadows are sometimes seen moving on the beach and around the castle (the so-called "Drosoulites").

If you are staying longer in the area, you can visit other nearby beaches that are also nice and quiet - for example Lakki beach, Koutelos beach, Fata Morgana beach or Orthi Ammos beach.

Tips for trips in the vicinity

If you follow the road from Frangokastello eastwards, after about 300 m you will reach a small chapel. This chapel stands on the site of the former Christian basilica of Agios Nikitas, which was built in the second half of the 6th century. The basilica was 26 m long and its remains can still be seen today. Large mosaic floors with pictures of animals and geometric patterns were part of the basilica and are still in relatively good condition today. The basilica was abandoned when the Arabs invaded the island and later its stones were used by the Venetians to build the fortress of Frangokastello. The small church that stands today is the Venetian church of Agios Nikitas, dating from the 13th century. The mosaic floors of the old basilica and other building materials were used in its construction, and the interior of the building is decorated with murals.

There are several hiking trails around the resort that fall under the European E4 designation. One of them is the Kallikratis Gorge, which is not too demanding - it is about 5 km long, but doesn't offer much shade in summer, so you need to think about plenty of fluids and headwear. Another nice area is the Askifou Plateau with a route through the Imbros Gorge - similar in difficulty to the previous gorge, it is about 6 km long and passes through a dry riverbed.

Who is the centre suitable for?

This part of Crete remains quiet and far from the mass tourism of the most popular Cretan holiday resorts. The quiet resort of Frangokastello attracts especially the beautiful and spacious sandy beaches and the pleasant environment for relaxation and walks. A large number of tourists only visit the village for a short time, as part of a trip to Frangokastello Fortress.

More touristic destinations of Crete

Close resorts: Chora Sfakion

Most favourite resorts of Crete: Adelianos Kampos, Agia Marina, Agios Nikolaos, Heraklion (Iraklion), Hersonissos, Chania, Ierapetra, Kalamaki (Matala), Malia, Platanias (Chania), Rethymno, Stalis

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Crete.