Chlemoutsi Castle #1277

Description

 Built by the Crusader rulers of the Principality of Achaea, it served as their main stronghold and is considered one of the finest examples of early Frangokratia fortifications preserved in Greece.

Perched on a 220-meter-high hilltop, Chlemoutsi sits close to the sea (about 2 to 2.5 km away) at the westernmost point of the Peloponnese, offering sweeping views of the Ionian Sea, as well as Zakynthos and Kefalonia. Its strategic position provided visual control over large areas of Elis and Achaea. The castle’s proximity to Glarentza Castle (about 5-6 km) and Andravida (12-13 km), the capital of the Principality of Achaea, highlights its role in protecting these significant but unfortified locations.

The castle’s Greek name, "Chlemoutsi," originates from the medieval Chronicle of Morea and is a corruption of its original French name, Clairmont. During the Venetian period, it was known as Castel Tornese, based on the mistaken belief that it was the location of the Principality’s mint, which produced the silver gros tournois coins.