FRAGOKASTELO

In recent years the area of Fragokastello has started a slow but continuous development, which does not affect its traditional beauty. New tourist facilities have been built in harmony with the family atmosphere of the village. There are various taverns, restaurants, cafes and shops that will meet your basic needs.

Almost the entire coast consists of sandy beaches, as is the beach in front of the fortress, the closest to the Monachus Monachus Apartments.

Another equally close but spectacular one is that of Orthi Ammos. The morphology of the area (vertical slopes) and the wind waves during the winter months saved the sand into golden dunes, thus covering the wild landscape and creating an ideal and safe place for children to play.

The plain of Fragokastello is an ideal base for exploring both the wider area of Sfakia and the southwestern side of Crete. Near Frangokastello, on the road leading to Chania, are the villages of KomitadesVraskasVouvasNomikiana και Ag. Nektarios. Other noteworthy places are the Chora Sfakion, η Impros, Asfikouand th Vryses. North of the castle are the villages Patsianos andKapsodasos, while the picturesque village of Kallikrati is even further north. On the south side, along the road leading to Rethymno and Heraklion are the villages SkalotiArgoulesAnoand Kato RodakinoSeliaAg. IoannisAgouselianaand Ag. Vasileios, while also known for its nightlife is the village of Plakias. Along the route there are many points of interest, such as the Kotsifou Canyon, where the road passes through narrow and steep rocks, creating a beautiful but wild landscape that ends with a small church in an alcove at the end of the canyon.

Fragokastello is also known to mountaineering clubs and hikers because of the European Hiking Trail E4. In general, in Crete, the E4 consists of branches that connect many gorges, such as the Kallikratis Gorge near us, as well as the village and plateau of the same name, at an altitude of 750 metres. The Kallikratis Gorge can be traversed by following a path of about 4 km, starting from the village of Kallikratis and ending at the village of Patsianos. The gorge is only 1km long.

It takes 2.5 hours to reach the beach of Frangokastelos. Another famous gorge of the region is the one of Imbrou. It is the second longest canyon in Crete after that of Samaria. Improu Canyon (or Nibrou) has a length of 7 km. It is located on the eastern edge of the Leuka Ori and extends from the village of Imbros to the village of Komitades. In some places it is only 2 meters wide and its sides reach 300 meters high. Almost in the centre of the gorge there is a reservoir that is considered to be Venetian. Combining a tour of both gorges can prove to be quite an interesting experience, as the visitor has the opportunity through the walk to discover a part of the imposing Leuka Ori.

In addition, the members of the Hellenic Mountaineering Club of Chania have created four mountain shelters in cooperation with the state in order to help visitors who want to explore the White Mountains. Closer to Fragokastello is the shelter of Tauri, the construction of which was completed in 1992. The shelter of the Tauri is located above the village Ammoudari on the plateau
 Askyfou Sfakion at an altitude of 1200 meters. It can be reached by following a 7.5km rural road and passing through the forest. It has been estimated that it takes one and a half to two hours of walking to explore. Every year the area hosts children’s camps.

Other information about this, as mentioned on the page of the Hellenic Mountaineering Club of Chania, is as follows:

HIKING LENGTH:  19 km
DIFFICULTY: Easy

TOTAL TIME:
6 1/2 hours

HIKING LENGTH: 18 km
DIFFICULTY: Easy route, country roads

TOTAL TIME: Fragokastelo – Kapsodasos:  45′, Kallikratis Canyon: 3 hours
Kallikratis – Asi Gonia:  2 1/2 hours

Another attraction in Frangokastello is the Cave of Daskalogiannis. It can only be reached by boat as it is located between the rocks on the coast. The cave is approximately 30 meters (98.4 feet) long, 4 meters (13 feet) high and 4 meters (13 feet) wide. It was named the Cave of Daskalogianni in honor of the Cretan military leader. On April 4, 1770, Daskalogiannis, motivated by the success of the revolution against the Turks in the Peloponnese, made the decision to lead the Sfakian people against the Turks. This move is remembered in history as the Revolution of Daskalogiannis. The impressive thing is that during the revolution the cave was used as a mint.

Frangokastello is also known for the celebration of Nikitios. A celebration that is organized every year, in mid-September, in honor of Saint Nikitas but also in memory of the ancient games that were held in the area of Fragokastello then known as Nikitas, dedicated to the goddess Niki.

In general, Frangokastello can be considered as an area that manages to combine quietness with picturesqueness. If you are planning a road trip to Frangokastello, the following distances from the main cities of Crete will be useful: 80km from Chania, 70km from  Rethymno, 170km from Heraklion, and 11km from Chora of Sfakia.