Issaris Byzantine Castle

"The city of Sidirokastro, which means ""iron castle,"" owes its name to this Byzantine castle, since ""demir hisar,"" which became ""issaris"" to the Greeks, means ""iron castle"" in Turkish. The Issaris Castle (or fort) was begun in 527 AD by Emperor Justinian and completed by Andronikos Palaiologos in the 14th century. Today, just a few walls of the castle survive. A dirt road leads to the castle on the hilltop, and it is worth visiting just for the view of the plain of Serres, the Strymonas River, and Lake Kerkini."