Passavas Castle
Passavas Castle is located 10 km southwest of Gythio (2 km from the beach of Mavrovouni), on the the site of the Homeric settlement of Las, whose materials were used for its construction. The location is of strategic importance, as it is the main entrance to Exo Mani. It is possible that the name comes from the French expression "pas avant", which means "up to this point", as at this point the people of Mani interrupted the course of the Franks towards their land.
The Castle was built in 1254 by the French knight John de Nevilly (Nully), son of William Villehardouin, Frankish conqueror of the Peloponnese. In 1259, at the Battle of Pelagonia, William was captured by the Byzantines and forced to concede all of Laconia as an exchange for his freedom. Thus, the Castle passed into the hands of the Byzantines for about two centuries. The period 1481-1780, it passed to the Turks, while in 1780 it was, finally, reacquired by the people of Mani.
Passava Castle, with its exceptional view, has a trapezoidal shape and is surrounded by high walls, a large part of which has now collapsed. The Castle has a maximum length of about 180 meters and a width of 90 meters. Today, the ruins of the barracks, the water tank (which bears ancient marble building materials), and a small mosque are preserved. The Frankish towers and bastions are also visible. Finally, on the southwest side of the Castle, a building that served as the residence of the lord of the area is preserved in a fairly good condition. More specifically, it is a large, rectangular, stone building.