Castle of Chlemoutsi - Elia Peloponnese
Chlemoutsi is located in the village of Kastro in the Municipality of Andravida Kyllini, in the western cape of the Peloponnese. Built on the top of a hill, it dominates the plain of Ilia.
The castle was founded in 1220-1223 by the ruler of Godfrey I Villeardouin and was the strongest fortress of the Franciscan prince of Achaia, which was particularly prosperous during the Villeardouin era. To enable it to be built, Godfrey clashed with the Catholic clergy of Achaia and used the proceeds to build it. The new castle was named after the founders of Clermont, in Greek by the corrupt Chlemucci, while the Venetians later called it Castel Tornese because it was mistakenly believed that the Frankish mint of Turners was here.
Strategically built, with extensive views of the plain of Ilia and the Ionian Sea, it protected the capital of Prince Andravida and the important port of Glarentza.
After the death of William Villeardouin, a period of turmoil follows, heated disputes over succession to hegemony, and gradually the principality is led to decline. Chlemucci is the subject of claims between various nobles. He is imprisoned and dies at the Margin of Aqova, because he was held responsible for the claim of Moria by Ferdinand of Mallorca and the arrival of the Catalans who occupied the castle in 1315. Chlemuci is recaptured by the Franks and remains in the Franks. of the 15th century, when it passed into the hands of Charles Tokou, Count of Kefalonia and Despot of Epirus.
In 1427 Constantine Palaiologos settled peacefully after his marriage to Tokyo's daughter and he used it as his military and administrative center. In 1460 the castle was occupied by the Turks and in 1867 by the Venetians, who held it until 1715, when it was again occupied by the Turks. However, it seems that Chlemucci has begun to lose its important role in the defense of the region since the end of the Frankish rule. In 1701 Grimani proposes his destruction. Its location did not serve the interests of the Venetians, which were related to the sea, while the already old castle required extensive work to repair and modernize it. Chlemuchi remained in the Turkish occupation until the Revolution of 1821. Significant destruction was suffered during the bombing of part of it in 1826 by Ibrahim who destroyed a tower of the inner enclosure and the wall near it, indicating that the castle was played by a Greek Revolution.
Today, Chlemucchi still retains its strong Franciscan character. of the later conquerors only the Turks seemed interested in modernizing it and did little work, mainly on adapting to the use of firearms. Thus the castle remains one of the most important and well-preserved fortresses in Greece and is an excellent example of the fortress architecture of the Frankish era in the Peloponnese.
The Andravida-Kyllini International Festival has been hosting high-level cultural events and musical performances since 2012. For the last 2 years, the castle has featured a successful audiovisual musical performance entitled "The Secret Song of the Castle - Medieval Castle Nights" by composer and artistic director of Festival George Voukanos.
The castle was founded in 1220-1223 by the ruler of Godfrey I Villeardouin and was the strongest fortress of the Franciscan prince of Achaia, which was particularly prosperous during the Villeardouin era. To enable it to be built, Godfrey clashed with the Catholic clergy of Achaia and used the proceeds to build it. The new castle was named after the founders of Clermont, in Greek by the corrupt Chlemucci, while the Venetians later called it Castel Tornese because it was mistakenly believed that the Frankish mint of Turners was here.
Strategically built, with extensive views of the plain of Ilia and the Ionian Sea, it protected the capital of Prince Andravida and the important port of Glarentza.
After the death of William Villeardouin, a period of turmoil follows, heated disputes over succession to hegemony, and gradually the principality is led to decline. Chlemucci is the subject of claims between various nobles. He is imprisoned and dies at the Margin of Aqova, because he was held responsible for the claim of Moria by Ferdinand of Mallorca and the arrival of the Catalans who occupied the castle in 1315. Chlemuci is recaptured by the Franks and remains in the Franks. of the 15th century, when it passed into the hands of Charles Tokou, Count of Kefalonia and Despot of Epirus.
In 1427 Constantine Palaiologos settled peacefully after his marriage to Tokyo's daughter and he used it as his military and administrative center. In 1460 the castle was occupied by the Turks and in 1867 by the Venetians, who held it until 1715, when it was again occupied by the Turks. However, it seems that Chlemucci has begun to lose its important role in the defense of the region since the end of the Frankish rule. In 1701 Grimani proposes his destruction. Its location did not serve the interests of the Venetians, which were related to the sea, while the already old castle required extensive work to repair and modernize it. Chlemuchi remained in the Turkish occupation until the Revolution of 1821. Significant destruction was suffered during the bombing of part of it in 1826 by Ibrahim who destroyed a tower of the inner enclosure and the wall near it, indicating that the castle was played by a Greek Revolution.
Today, Chlemucchi still retains its strong Franciscan character. of the later conquerors only the Turks seemed interested in modernizing it and did little work, mainly on adapting to the use of firearms. Thus the castle remains one of the most important and well-preserved fortresses in Greece and is an excellent example of the fortress architecture of the Frankish era in the Peloponnese.
The Andravida-Kyllini International Festival has been hosting high-level cultural events and musical performances since 2012. For the last 2 years, the castle has featured a successful audiovisual musical performance entitled "The Secret Song of the Castle - Medieval Castle Nights" by composer and artistic director of Festival George Voukanos.