The Medieval Castle of Salmeniko is located on the northern slopes of the Panachaicon mountain. It was built during the Frankish occupation around 1300 A.C. by a feudal Franc lord at an altitude of 200 meter circa. It is located at the highest point above the riverbank of Phoenix in a very abrupt and steep cliff, where the castle was protected by natural walls. It is well known due to the fact that it was the last Greek castle fell to the Muslim invaders. Salmeniko’s castle because of raids, was a refuge for the population of the surrounding areas (about 6000 people). In 1460 was attacked by Mehmed II the Conqueror. After one year of siege the besieged were still strong. They hoped for help from the outside since the situation was becoming very serious. Unfortunately when it found that such assistance would never arrived, Constantine Palaeologus, under pressure from lack of water and the extermination of the population, decided to accept the proposals of the Turks and so the castle surrendered. The Castle of Oria, as it is called in Upper Salmeniko has the legend, according to which in the bottom of the ravine is buried the princess what was assassinated by a traitor to conquer Castle. Today in the area there are few remaining of the castle’s wall and city's houses. Intact to time still remains the bridge while in the adjacent river’s bed there’s the rock of Oria heroine of the siege. (the one murdered by the traitor) . Much of the castle has collapsed along the mountain that was built on. The access to the side is almost impossible due to continuous landslides.
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