On the hill of Prophet Elias, over the Boeotian capital, stands the Medieval Castle of the city. In the bright green landscape, the castle hides all the history of the area. It was built in the 12th century by the Catalans who had control of the area, after their victory over the Franks. During the Ottoman rule the castle passed over to Mehmed II. In 1821, the Castle of Livadeia was the third castle in Greece that raised the Revolutionary flag.
All around the outdoor yard there is the rocky hill, the one side of which leads to the gorge. Inside the castle there is the byzantine chapel of Saint Sophia that was of special importance to the Catalans. After the Revolution, there were important damages to the castle, since the one tower had been destroyed and some parts of the wall had almost collapsed. After some maintenance works, the tower as well as the walls are reconstructed. Inside the castle the floors and the stairs were also repaired, and consequently the ancient castle currently operates as an exhibition place. Walking up the tower you can enjoy the view of the whole city. The access to the castle from the stone-paved lanes is easy.
GLA CASTLE
On the northeast side of the area of Copais, there are the ruins of the Mycenaean Gla Castle. It was built in the Mycenaean period and it was fortified with a strong cyclopean wall, with four gates. The wall was constructed with boulders. In the interior part, the buildings were very few and they were gathered in a central yard.
The citadel of Gla is the biggest fortified Mycenaean citadel which is preserved in Greece. The wall either had not been completed since its construction or it had been altered. It is actually considered to be a collective work, of all the neighboring cities of the area, and mostly of the Minyans of Orchomenus. Melathron is the basic building in the citadel of Gla. It consisted of two wings and it covered the biggest part of the citadel. Melathron had two entrances and inside it there were separate buildings. Perimetrically of the citadel there were levees in order to hold the water from the streams. The buildings of Gla were destroyed by a fire in 1200 BC approximately and since then they were not inhabited again.
CLOCK TOWER
In the centre of the capital of Boeotia the hands of a big clock point the time! The Clock Tower was built during the period of the Frank rule and it was used as a torch because of its panoramic position. In 1803, when Lord Elgin donated a big clock to the people of Livadeia, that was placed on the tower. Elgin decided to donate this clock to them in order to be allowed to carry out excavations to reveal the Oracle of Trophonius. The clock has still remained there and it is known as the symbol of Livadeia.
STONE THEATRE OF LIVADEIA
Erkynas River, which springs in the area of Krya, flows through the city of Livadeia. Krya is a natural park, at the end of the gorge. In the gorge there is the open stone-built theatre, which has been there since the ancient years. Besides, it is thought that in this area there was the Oracle of Zeus Trophonius, during antiquity. Because if its position the theatre has excellent acoustics and it is used for cultural events. The stone-paved lakes, which have junctions for walks in the nature, lead to the theatre.
Attractions / Destinations
Useful Phones
On the hill of Prophet Elias, over the Boeotian capital, stands the Medieval Castle of the city. In the bright green landscape, the castle hides all the history of the area. It was built in the 12th century by the Catalans who had control of the area, after their victory over the Franks. During the Ottoman rule the castle passed over to Mehmed II. In 1821, the Castle of Livadeia was the third castle in Greece that raised the Revolutionary flag.
In the centre of the capital of Boeotia the hands of a big clock point the time! The Clock Tower was built during the period of the Frank rule and it was used as a torch because of its panoramic position. In 1803, when Lord Elgin donated a big clock to the people of Livadeia, that was placed on the tower. Elgin decided to donate this clock to them in order to be allowed to carry out excavations to reveal the Oracle of Trophonius. The clock has still remained there and it is known as the symbol of Livadeia.
Erkynas River, which springs in the area of Krya, flows through the city of Livadeia. Krya is a natural park, at the end of the gorge. In the gorge there is the open stone-built theatre, which has been there since the ancient years. Besides, it is thought that in this area there was the Oracle of Zeus Trophonius, during antiquity. Because if its position the theatre has excellent acoustics and it is used for cultural events. The stone-paved lakes, which have junctions for walks in the nature, lead to the theatre.