Chlemoutsi Castle is situated in the village of Kastro, in the Municipality of Andravida – Kyllini, of the Ilia Regional Unit, on the westernmost cape of the Peloponnese. Chlemoutsi is built on the summit of Chelonata Hill, the region’s highest point. From its prominent, strategic position it dominates the entire plain of Ilia, while overseeing southern Achaia, the Ionian Sea and the coast of Aitoloakarnania.

The castle was established in 1220-1223 by Geoffrey I of Villehardouin. It was considered the strongest fortress of the Frankish principality of Achaea, which flourished under the rule of the Villehardouin family. To achieve its construction, Geoffrey clashed with the catholic clergy of Achaea and used the benefices. The new castle was named after its founders, Clermont; in Greek, the name is corrupted to Chlemoutsi. In later times, it was called Castel Tornese by the Venetians because they mistakenly believed the Frankish mint that produced tornesia (the principality’s currency) was located there.

Built on a strategic location, with an extensive view of the Ilia plain and the Ionian sea, the castle was protecting the principality’s capital, Andravida, as well as the significant port of Glarentza.

After Geoffrey’s death, a period of upheaval ensued, and severe conflicts broke out over the succession, which led to the gradual decline of the principality. Several nobles claimed Chlemoutsi. It became the place where Marguerite de Villehardouin, lady of Akova, was imprisoned and died, because she was considered responsible for the assertion of the region of Morias by Ferdinand of Mallorca and the arrival of the Catalans, who conquered the castle in 1315. Chlemoutsi was reconquered by the Franks and remained under their rule until the beginning of the 15th century, when Carlo Tocco, Count Palatine of Kephallonia and Despot of Epirus, occupied it.

In 1427, Constantine Palaiologos obtained it peacefully after his marriage to Tocco’s daughter. Palaiologos used it as his military and administrative center. In 1460, the castle was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, and in 1687 by the Venetians, who held it until 1715, when the Ottoman Turks recaptured it. It seems that during that period, Chlemoutsi began to lose its significant role in the defense of the area, since the end of Frankish rule. In 1701, Grimani suggests its destruction. Its location was not serving Venice’s maritime interests, while the old castle required extensive repair and revitalization. Chlemoutsi remained under Turkish control until the Greek Revolution of 1821. Part of it was severely damaged during Ibrahim Pasha’s bombardment, when a tower of the internal enclosure and the wall next to it were destroyed; this indicates that the castle was used during the Greek Revolution.

Nowadays, Chlemoutsi continues to keep its strong Frankish character. Only the Ottomans seem interested in its repair and revitalization, doing small-scale work mainly to adapt it for artillery employment. This way, the castle remains one of the most striking and well-preserved fortresses of Greece and an exceptional example of fortification architecture of the Frankish era in the Peloponnese.



Chronology

13th -19th centuries AD.