Image © Rhodes Guide / RhodesGuide.com

Feraclos (Feraklos) Castle, Rhodes

The castle of Feraclos (Feraklos) lies 150m high on a very sharp and rocky hill, on the eastern side of the island, overlooking the bays of Haraki and Agathi, opposite the coast of Asia Minor.

It is now in a quite dilapidated condition. However, it used to be one of the most effectively bastioned fortresses of the Knights of St. John in the early 1300s. Exactly because of its strategic position, the Knights were able to easily monitor the activities of the enemy ships approaching the island as well as to safely travel to the sea routes of Near East and northern Africa.

The fortress was used as a stronghold by Arab pirates before the Knights’ arrival to Rhodes, who managed to expel the pirates and improve the strength of the fortifications. Many rooms of the castle were transformed into prison cells, serving to detain prisoners of war, but also foreign merchants found to have been involved in illegal businesses.

Feraclos (Feraklos) Castle © Rhodes Guide / RhodesGuide.com

In 1445, the castle successfully confronted a severe attack by the Ottoman Turks, who were attempting to enter the island of Rhodes. But later on, the Knights were constantly challenged by a relentless siege from the Ottoman Empire and were struggling to protect themselves amongst the walls of the castle, until 1522, when the Rhodes town fall took place.

In 1523, the castle becomes a proper battlefield, where Suleiman the Magnificent manages to take over the castle and commands the residents to be slaughtered, and Prince Murat of Turkey, who had been planning to depose Suleiman while living in the castle, to be captured and subsequently hanged, along with members of his family.

Ever since, the castle was never occupied again, the residents of the surrounding areas abandoned the place, leaving only ruins and memories behind. One of the surrounding areas is the today’s Haraki, previously called Alia.

Feraclos (Feraklos) Castle © Rhodes Guide / RhodesGuide.com

If you want to visit the castle today, you will have to be aware of the fact that the route to the single entry point available is quite grueling because of the slippery paths and the slightly dangerous steps you need to climb. Therefore, the attempt is probably not suitable for the elderly and young children.

The view of the castle today is rather an image of negligence and abandonment and this is evident by the vast wild vegetation and shrubbery you will see around the inside of the castle where life used to be dominant years ago. However, it would be very interesting to see the underground secret tunnels which once lead the way to the sea and were parts of the old water reservoir that used to provide water to the residents of the nearby areas.

Feraclos (Feraklos) Castle © Rhodes Guide / RhodesGuide.com

Castle location:
37.2 km from Rhodes Town, the castle is easily viewed from both Haraki and Agathi beaches, as it sits on a steep hilltop. All you have to do, is park your vehicle to the parking designated area and walk up the path leading to the castle.

Article topics

Related articles

The former Governor's Palace, now used as the the Building of the Prefecture, It is one of the most considerable buildings constructed on Rhodes during the Italian occupation of the island. It is a combination of many different architectural styles and its arrangement strongly resembles the Palace of the Duces in Venice.

Topics: Historic buildings

Read more aboutGovernor's Palace

When you approach the walls of Medieval Old Town of Rhodes you are about to enter the oldest inhabited medieval city in Europe. It's a thrill to behold. Best to know one thing from the start about the Old Town of Rhodes: It's not laid out on a grid - not even close.

Topics: Castle, History, Medieval

Read more aboutRhodes Old Medieval Town

The first traces of life on the island of Rhodes are lost in the fog of myth. The first inhabitants are said to have been the native Heliades, children of the protective god Helios and Clymene the Oceanid, and the Telchines, a strange kind of people who supposedly resembled demons. These were, according to tradition, skilled sailors and skilled craftsmen who taught the ancient Rhodians how to forge and process stone.

Topics: Historic buildings, History

Read more aboutRhodes history


Feraclos (Feraklos) Castle reviews & comments

click here to add your review!
No reviews yet. Be the first to write one using the form below!

Let us know what you think about Feraclos (Feraklos) Castle - your opinion matters!
Rate this article or place (optional)

Feedback