page_title: Tower houses in the Balkans
section_title: In Greece
hierarchical_section_title: Tower houses in the Balkans / In Greece
caption_attribution_description: English: Tower houses in village Vatheia in Laconia, Greece, on the Mani Peninsula. Čeština: věžové domy ve vsi Vathia v Lakonii na řeckém poloostrově Mani. Deutsch: Wohntürme in Vathia, Griechenland
context_page_description: A distinctive type of Ottoman tower houses developed and were built in the Balkans, as well as in Romania, after the Ottoman conquest in the Middle Ages by both Christian and Muslim communities. The practice began during the decline of Ottoman power in the 17th century and flourished until the early 20th century. The tower houses were typically made out of stone, rose three or four storeys, and were square or rectangular in shape. They served both military and civilian purposes in order to protect the extended family.
context_section_description: The tradition of towerhouses in Greek architecture existed since Byzantine and Frankish times.
  Although the Ottoman-period architecture has almost completely disappeared from Greek urban centres, there are scattered examples of tower houses built in Ottoman Greece and during the chifliks.
  Alongside the fortified houses of Mani (called xemonia), there are also residential towers (koule) of Ottoman origin.
  Greek architects have claimed that the Albanian tower houses developed under Greek influence.
caption: Tower houses in Vatheia, Mani peninsula
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