About 11 km. east of the Chora Sfakion, is the site of the old "Castel Franco" (Franchise Castle), built by the Venetians in 1371 as a defense against pirates and Cretan rebels.
The Venetians built the castle right on the beach in 1371, to protect themselves from pirates and from the constant revolts of the locals.
They called it Castel Franco and that's how Frangokastello took its name.
The castle carries a blood-drenched history related to the struggle for freedom against the Turks. Related to this history, a strange phenomenon called Drosoulites, takes place in Frangokastello, and according to the legend, is related to the Battle of Frangokastello.
The battle of Frangokastello In 1828 during the War of Independence against the Turks, the troops of Hatzimihalis Dalianis took refuge in the castle during the Battle of Frangokastello. The leader of the Turks, Mustafabey, besieged the castle for seven days. During the siege Dalianis himself and 350 of his troops died.
Locals, however, closed in on the Turkish army from behind and with their help, Mustafabey retreated and allowed to the troops to exit the castle unharmed.
Afterwards, he demolished a big part of the castle and started to proceed towards northeast.
But the locals, waited for them in the gorges and slaughtered many his army.
The phenomenon of Drosoulites .Every year, on the anniversary of the battle of Frangokastello (May 17th ), when the dawn breaks, the visitor sees a long procession of visions. There are people, dressed in black, with their weapons shining under the morning sun, walkers and riders, marching from the ruined church of Agios Charalambos and advancing towards the fort. They reach the sea and disappear into it , with the first rays of the sun.
They are called Drosoulites. The phenomenon usually last about 10 minutes. Many have tried to explain this in a scientific way, and at one time it was explained as a mirage from the coast of north Africa, but still there is no accepted consensus.
The appearance of the Drosoulites is so real, that is is documented over the ages. In 1890 a transient Turkish army, took the images for rebels and opened fire on them. Even during the last World War, a German patrol opened fire on the visions.
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