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Fortress · Heraclião, Creta
Fortaleza de Koules
The Venetian fortress guarding the entrance to Heraclião’s old harbour, built between 1523 and 1540, with vaulted rooms and a terrace overlooking the city and the sea.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Fortaleza de Koules
Koules is the Turkish name of the fortress the Venetians called Castello a Mare, the castle of the sea. It stands at the tip of the breakwater of Heraclião’s old harbour and was built between 1523 and 1540, on the site of an older tower, to protect the port of Cândia, as the city was then called. The outer walls still bear the lions of St. Mark, the symbol of Venice.
Inside, the fortress has two floors of vaulted rooms that served as storehouses, barracks, a prison and a cistern. The rooms have been restored and now house an exhibition on the history of the harbour and the castle itself, with wreck finds and cannons, as well as temporary art shows. The staircase leads to the terrace, which looks out over the harbour, the walled city and, on clear days, mount Psiloritis, the highest in Crete.
Koules withstood the Ottoman siege of Cândia, which lasted 21 years and ended in 1669, one of the longest in history. The breakwater that leads to it is the locals’ favourite promenade at the end of the afternoon.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 45 minutes to an hour for the interior visit and the terrace.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the sun drops over the sea and the breakwater fills with people. Early morning visits are quieter. On very windy days the breakwater can be sprayed by waves.
How to get there
It stands at the tip of the old harbour, at the end of rua 25 de Agosto, about a 10-minute walk from the praça dos Leões. The KTEL bus station and the ferry port are adjacent.
Tip
Walk to the end of the breakwater, beyond the fortress, to see Koules from the seaward side. The interior visit is short and pairs well with the Museu Histórico de Creta, a few minutes along the waterfront.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Fortaleza de Koules
Can you enter the fortress of Koules?
Yes. The interior rooms have been restored and house an exhibition about the port, and the terrace is open to visitors. Check days and opening hours before you go.
Who built the fortress of Koules?
The Venetians, between 1523 and 1540, to protect the port of Cândia, the Venetian name for Heraclião. The name Koules came later, in the Ottoman period.
What can you see from the terrace of Koules?
The old harbor, the walled city, the modern ferry port and, in clear weather, the mountains of the interior of Crete.