The region of the castle of Chlemoutsi. East of the castle is Andravida, which was the capital of the Principality of Achaea; at its north is the coastal city of Glarentza, the port of the area. Further ahead in the north, at the Baths of Yrminis, lies a small castle, Pontikokastro, which protected the north of Chlemoutsi castle. (© Road Publications)

Chlemoytsi, one of the most well preserved fortresses of the Frankish rule, is in the westerner part of the Peloponnese on the peninsula of Kyllini. It is 2.5 km away from the sea, eastern wise, and 6 km from the northern cape of Kyllini; it is built on a hill of 245 m. height, above the village Kastro (Castle in Greek).

Despite the average height of this hill, it offers a panoramic view of the region and that is why Geoffroi de Villehardouin chose this area to build his castle in 1220, the most powerful fortress of the Frankish Principality of Achaea, in order to protect both its capital Andraviva and Glarenta, the coastal city, one of the important cities of the era. Chemoutsi, coupled with Pontikokastro, northern, in the region of Yrminis, had all the area under their control.

The castle’s prosperity was shadowed by the disputes of the House de Villehardouin and for one small interval, in 1315, the castle fell to the hands of the Catalonians, only to be soon re-conquered by the Franks who ruled until the 15^th century.  Karolos Tokkos from Cephalonia took over the castle in the beginning of the 15^th century but in 1427, it fell to the hands of Konstantinos Palaiologos. From 1460 to 1687, it fell to the hands of the Turks and, from 1687 to 1715, to the hands of the Venetians. Since 1715, Turks took it over until it was finally integrated into the Greek State in 1821.

The small annexes to the castle, built by its successive conquerors, did not alter its initial form, which constitutes an important sample of fortress architecture of the Frankish rule in Greece. It is comprised of two surrounding walls, the exterior of which contains a wide-open space; the Turks built a mosque there during their domination. More interesting is the internal surrounding wall, which confines a central courtyard and contains continuous rooms, at the entry of which lies a chapel. The rooms were covered with vaulted structures, and the fireplaces, that used to heat them, are visible to this day.

In Andravida, 11 km east of Chlemoutsi, right in its central square, lies a fragmented section of the church of Saint Sofia with its characteristic Frankish style.

Cultural events take place every year both in the castle of Clemoutsi and in Saint Sofia of Andravida.

The Chlemoutsi castle is one of the most well-preserved samples of fortress architecture of the Frankish rule in Greece.

The internal surrounding wall of Chlemoutsi castle and its rooms.

Saint Sofia in Andravida, capital of the Principality of Achaea during the Frankish rule.

|