History

There are many Castles of Oria in Greece, and also in the wider Greek area of Asia Minor. In Arcadia there are two: this one in Xirokampi, and a second near the village of Tourkoleka and Chirades, also called Gardiki.

According to a popular tradition common to many medieval castles in Greece, the castle belonged to a beautiful (oraia, becoming oria) Frankish noblewoman who resisted the Turks for twelve years. Eventually the castle was captured by deceit, and the noblewoman leaped from the walls to avoid being taken captive (see also the folk song about this).