Labraunda is an ancient site in south-western Turkey, excavated by Swedish archaeologists. This solitary place was a pilgrim sanctuary and the sacred centre for the ancient Karians; a paved road for sacred processions led there from Milas. The shrine at Labraunda was the most important one in this part of Karia. This guide to the Swedish excavations contains both a description of the buildings that were erected in honour of the god Zeus Labraundos and an account of how the site was rediscovered in the 19th century. Labraunda is worth a visit not only because of the well-preserved remains of the unique banqueting hall Andron A and the other ruins, but also for the beautiful location and the splendid panorama view it offers. It is also unusual to find an ancient sanctuary, which, after its heyday, remained almost unchanged. It is therefore still possible to imagine what the sanctuary looked like in the 4th century BC, at the time when Karia was ruled by Maussollos and Idrieus.
