Chlemoutsi Castle

Chlemoutsi Castle (also known as Château Clermont and Castel Tornese) is a medieval castle built on a plateau in Andravida, offering extensive views of the Plain of Elis and the Ionian Sea. It is about a 35-minute drive from Katakolon Port to Andravida.

Established by Prince Geoffrey I Villehardouin in 1220-1223, it became the strongest fortress of the Frankish rule of Achaia. With the end of Frankish domination, Chlemoutsi Castle gradually lost its importance.

It remained in continuous use under Greek, Venetian, and Turkish domination, until the Greek War of Independence. The castle underwent only minor works under the Ottoman Rule, thus preserving its strong Frankish character to this day.

The castle forms a striking example of fortress architecture of the Frankish era in Peloponnese.

Chlemoutsi Castle

The castle consists of two enclosures:

The inner enclosure included the home of the castellan (the Prince), the chapel, and residence for the garrison and was built on the highest point on the hill.

Its irregular hexagonal shape features a continuous row of halls which enclose a vast central courtyard. The outer enclosure extends to the north and west with remains of buildings, including cisterns and a Turkish mosque.

The remains of numerous fireplaces are evident in the buildings of both enclosures of the Chlemoutsi Castle, to this day. Western architectural features are predominant in the castle, with depressed or slightly pointed arches in the openings, and ovoid vaults covering the halls of the inner enclosure.