Tower of Apollonia

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The Tower of Apollonia or Tower of bachelors ( Grееk: Πύργος Απολλωνίας or Πύργος Ελευθερών, Bulgarian: Аполонийска кула or Eргенска кула) stand on the coast hill 27 km east of the Struma river estuary in Thracian Sea.

The Tower is a medieval fortification build by the tzar Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria or by the late Byzantine Empire in 13th-14th century. It stands on a hill just a some steps south from the present Thessaloniki - Kavala road Ethniki Odos 2 (EO2). From here the fortress controlled the stretch of coast between the Strymonian Gulf and the castle of Anaktoropolis (today Nea Peramos). The disappeared now village of Pyrgos, about 700 meters northeast, is named on the tower. The hot springs Baths Loutra Eleftheron is a 5 km west of the Tower.

The layout of the castle is about 25 m by 25 m. The wall thickness varies between 1.20 m and 2.35 m. Inside there are foundations of some buildings. The tower has a base of 10 m by 11 m and is located in the northeast corner of the castle. The access to the tower is in the south at 2 m height. Previously, a wooden staircase or ladder led to the entrance. One first entered the first floor. A ladder led to the basement. Above there were three more floors. To the eastern outer wall of the tower was added a church of which the apse is still visible today.

The tower present name is given in the modern times on the ancient thracian city of Apollonia. Strabon [1] reports that Apollonia lay between Galepsos and Mesta river . Whether the Tower of Apollonia actually stands on the site of ancient Apollonia is unknown. According to a legend, the city is said to be 500 meters off the coast in the sea.