Palaiokastro, Chalkidiki

Palaiokastro (Παλαιόκαστρο) Chalkidiki

Palaiokastro is located on the south-western side of Mount Holomontas and at an altitude of 570 meters. It is built mainly along the public road to Taxiarchis, with the central point being the intersection of the old provincial road Thessaloniki-Mount Athos-Polygyros. It is 8 km from Polygyros and 59 from Thessaloniki.

The main church and patron saint is Agios Athanasios.

According to the 2011 census, it had 221 inhabitants. Administratively it belongs to the municipality of Polygyros.

The only phenomenon in Halkidiki is that Palaiokastro consists of two villages, which are about a kilometer apart. The old settlement that is officially called Palaiokastro and the new settlement that is officially called the Crossroads of Palaiokastro. The old settlement, together with the Parthenon of Neos Marmaras, with the Presidential Decree 19.10.78 (Government Gazette 594 D 'of 12-11-1978), have been characterized as the only traditional settlements in the Prefecture of Chalkidiki.

Designation

Kaitzik: With this name we meet the village during the years of Turkish rule. The name is a paraphrase of the Turkish word Kayatzik, which means "place full of stones" or "rocky ground". Apparently this name was given because of the rugged and inaccessible relief that dominates the surrounding area. Palaiokastro: A few years after 1912 and the liberation of Chalkidiki, the new name of the village was chosen to be Palaiokastro, thanks to the old castle that exists northeast of the village.

Historical data

The history of Palaiokastro is long and is really lost in the depths of the centuries, starting from the Bronze Age. A feature of this course in time is the frequent changes of location of the village in a very small geographical area. Five such location changes have been confirmed, which testify to the chronological continuity of the village. After archeological research carried out by the 16th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, the responsible archaeologist tells us about the first two places:

- The first place of residence is located in Kastroudi.

According to the excavation findings, the period of its existence generally dates from the early Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. That is, from about 3,000 BC. until 1,000 BC

- The second place of residence is located in Pyrgothilia.

This settlement, whose ancient name is unknown, was founded during the classical period and lasted as long as the Hellenistic period. That is, from about 700 BC. until 200 BC

- The third place of residence is located in Vatonia.

It is a village of the Byzantine period and mainly of the 5th century AD. This is evidenced by the huge early Christian church that exists here and dates back to that particular century. This church, like many other buildings in Halkidiki, was probably destroyed around 550 AD. during the great invasion of the Huns.

The first written testimony with this name Vatonia, (Vatonia or Megala Vatonia), exists in 996 AD. in the archives of the monastery of Iveron, (ACTES D’IVIRON I). In these documents there seems to be a prosperous village but a few years ago it had accepted the looting raids of the Bulgarians. It is important that Vatonia was built approximately in the middle of the then road, which connected Thessaloniki with Mount Athos. Typical are the stories of the ancients about the inn that existed there and unfortunately it was demolished around 1955.

- The fourth movement and location is that of today's old village.

After the desolation of Vatonia, its inhabitants rebuilt the village around 1,500 AD.

The first name of this village was Agia Paraskevi, as mentioned in an Ottoman document of 1699 (there is a double name, Agia Paraskevi & Kayatzik). The name Kayatzik (Kaitzik), unknown why, was added and later prevailed, around 1650. We have a reference to the name Agia Paraskevi in ​​1732 in a document of the monastery of Agia Anastasia (Intention code), while in 1769 in a codex of the monastery of Chilandari it is mentioned with name Kaitziki (Athonite Mixed 9).

- The fifth and last movement and installation took place in the current location of the village, with the toponym “Isioma” and later “Intersection”.

The cause was the 1956 earthquake in Lake Volvi. The first 13 houses began to be built in 1962 with loans given to earthquake victims. However, the largest relocation began in 1968, during the seven-year period, with agricultural loans granted across the country. The place was chosen because it was then an important hub on the road network of central Halkidiki.

Customs

Many customs existed and were maintained in the village mainly on the twelfth day. These over time have been abandoned and forgotten and others are becoming sluggish. But one of the things that continues to this day is the Lights. It takes place on the eve and on the day of the Lights. In essence, it is an event that, with its disguises and bells, testifies that it is a remnant of the ancient Dionysian cult, which over time adapted to the needs of the times. There are even two festivals. Of Agios Christoforos and Agia Paraskevi.
Sights

We will start from Palaikastro. The castle that gave the name to the village. The construction period has not yet been announced. It occupies the top of a hill with a maximum altitude of 767m. and has a great viewing position. The entire settlement of the old village, which has been declared a protected area, in which many stone houses are preserved. Agia Paraskevi, the first parish church of the old village. The stone church of Agios Athanasios in the old village built in 1864, while its bell tower was built in 1909. The stone primary school in the old village. Damages are being saved from two watermills, Manikas and Baris on the river Kavroklakka, as well as the drista (water mill), a remnant from the metochi of the monastery of Filotheou in the place Louziki. The stone-built chapels of Zoodochou Pigi, Agia Paraskevi, Agios Christoforos and the prophet Elias, built after 1830. Cabbage. The forest of Palaiokastro, which occupies the south-western part of Mount Holomontas, which is dominated by oaks, and is crossed by the rivers of Vatonia and Kavrolakkas. There are several caves around the village, the main ones being Triakotrypa or Drakotrypa in the east and Gourna in the west.

Monuments

Palaiokastro has interesting monuments and was declared a traditional settlement in 1978 [1]. (Government Gazette 594 / D / 78). In the area of ​​"Vatonia" the visitor meets the eponymous stream with the plane trees and in the north of the settlement, in the place "Palaikastros" the ruins of an old castle are preserved, from which the village got its name.

M.D. Palaiokastro

The Municipal Department of Palaiokastro had 221 inhabitants in 2011. It is formed by the settlements:

the Palaiokastro Crossroads [206].
Palaiokastro [15].

External links

Villages of the Municipality of Polygyros: Palaiokastro

References

"Monuments of Halkidiki". Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2008.

Municipal unit Polygyros
Municipal Community Polygyros
Kalyves Polygyrou (Καλύβαι Πολυγύρου, αι)
Patelidas (Πατελιδάς, ο)
Polygyros (Πολύγυρος, ο)
Community Agios Prodromos
Agios Prodromos (Άγιος Πρόδρομος, ο)
Community Vrastana
Vrastama (Βράσταμα, τα)
Kelli (Κελλί, το)
Plana (Πλανά, η)
Community Olynthos
Olynthos (Όλυνθος, η)
Community Palaokastro
Διασταύρωση Παλαιοκάστρου, η
Palaiokastro (Παλαιόκαστρον, το)
Community Sana
Sana (Σανά, τα)
Community Taxiarchis
Taxiarchis (Ταξιάρχης, ο)

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