A special place in the list of attractions is held by the castles that have been preserved, reflecting the turbulent historical journey of the region.

In the city of Preveza, notable landmarks include the Castle of Saint Andrew, the Castle of Saint George at Kyani Akti, and the Castle of Pantokrator in the neighborhood of the same name, offering a breathtaking view of the sea and the sunset.

Within the city, you can also see remnants of the Boukas Fortress, located at the site of the Thermal Baths. Just a few kilometers from Preveza, near the village of Agios Thomas, lies the Fortress of Laskara.

In the Municipal District of Riza, near the Despo Bridge, you can gaze at the vastness of the Ionian Sea from the Castle of Rogoi.

Castle of Pantokratoras

Pantokrator is a seaside settlement located southwest of Preveza, just 400 meters from the exit of the Preveza–Aktio undersea tunnel. It was founded by refugees after the Asia Minor Catastrophe.

About one kilometer west of the city of Preveza, on the beach and at the point where the coastline turns toward the Ionian Sea, stands the Fortress of Pantokrator. According to Spyros Aravantinos, the fortress took its name from the Church of the Pantokrator, built there during the French occupation of the city, before the fortress itself was constructed, and which also gave its name to the neighboring settlement. Europeans referred to it as the “Venetian” or “Italian” castle, while the Turks called it Uç Kale (“uç” = edge, border, frontier).

The Fortress of Pantokrator was built in the early 19th century by Ali Pasha, based on the designs of the French engineer Yadocourt. This mission, however, also served French strategic interests in Epirus and Albania. Its location allowed for absolute control over navigation at the entrance of the Ambracian Gulf.

The main section of the stronghold is laid out in an almost regular pentagon, with tall surrounding walls. Along the perimeter are vaulted chambers forming a large central courtyard. The main fortress is encircled by buttresses, a seaward bastion, a dry moat between the bastion and the main fort to the south, and a water-filled moat to the north. The main gate is located on the northern side, accessible by crossing the water moat. In addition to the main gate, there is a smaller one on the eastern side, which connects the moat with the inner courtyard. Today, the site hosts various cultural events.

Inside the fortress, in the eastern section of the southern wing, stands a small church dedicated to Saints Anargyroi.

The central inner square appears to have been the original core of the fortress, while the elaborate seaward bastion represents a later construction phase.

It is worth noting that in later years the fortress was used by the Greek government as a prison. The prison facilities, with inmates’ cells and auxiliary spaces, are located in the southwestern wing of the castle. A large reinforced concrete balcony extends freely into the inner courtyard, connecting the cells with the prison administration areas situated in the eastern wing of the fortress.