Achilleion palace has a fascinating history! From Sisi to Weilheim to Casino to hospital no wonder it's possibly lost many of its prize possessions. The gardens and views are amazing.
Originally owned by Corfiote philosopher and diplomat Petros Vrailas Armenis, and known as "Villa Vraila was purchased by Sissi in 1888.
The main image shows the palace when it was new. Designed by the Neapolitan architect Cardilo and was completed in 1892. Built for Sissi to be known as "a palace with pillared colonnades and hanging gardens, protected from prying glances", it certainly lived up to its name. Sissi, distressed after the death of her son Rudolf after the Mayerling incident where he and his wife were found dead. Sissi rarely visited after this event, and after her assassination in 1898 the building stood empty until the Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany purchased it in 1907.
During World War I, the Achilleion was used as a military hospital by French and Serbian troops. After World War I, it was handed to the Greek state according to the treaty of Versailles and the war reparations that followed in 1919
From about 1921 to 1924, the palace housed an orphanage, which accommodated Armenian orphans from Constantinople. In the remaining years between the two world wars, the Achilleion property was used for various government functions and a number of artefacts were auctioned off.
During World War II, the Axis powers used the Achilleion as military headquarters. After the war, the Achilleion came under the management umbrella of the Hellenic Tourist Organisation (HTO), where it still is today.
In 1962 the palace was leased to a private company that converted the upper level into a casino and the ground floor into a museum. The lease was terminated in 1983 and the property was returned to the Hellenic tourist organisation and was closed as a casino in the mid '90s
In 1981 it was used for the Filming of James Bond's For Your Eyes Only as the next image shows, James and the Countess in the balcony, which you can still access for great views.
We highly recommended you visit and go early so as to beat the rush of bus tours or later in the day, and take an audio guide as there are many artefacts that you will want to know more about.
Originally owned by Corfiote philosopher and diplomat Petros Vrailas Armenis, and known as "Villa Vraila was purchased by Sissi in 1888.
The main image shows the palace when it was new. Designed by the Neapolitan architect Cardilo and was completed in 1892. Built for Sissi to be known as "a palace with pillared colonnades and hanging gardens, protected from prying glances", it certainly lived up to its name. Sissi, distressed after the death of her son Rudolf after the Mayerling incident where he and his wife were found dead. Sissi rarely visited after this event, and after her assassination in 1898 the building stood empty until the Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany purchased it in 1907.
During World War I, the Achilleion was used as a military hospital by French and Serbian troops. After World War I, it was handed to the Greek state according to the treaty of Versailles and the war reparations that followed in 1919
From about 1921 to 1924, the palace housed an orphanage, which accommodated Armenian orphans from Constantinople. In the remaining years between the two world wars, the Achilleion property was used for various government functions and a number of artefacts were auctioned off.
During World War II, the Axis powers used the Achilleion as military headquarters. After the war, the Achilleion came under the management umbrella of the Hellenic Tourist Organisation (HTO), where it still is today.
In 1962 the palace was leased to a private company that converted the upper level into a casino and the ground floor into a museum. The lease was terminated in 1983 and the property was returned to the Hellenic tourist organisation and was closed as a casino in the mid '90s
In 1981 it was used for the Filming of James Bond's For Your Eyes Only as the next image shows, James and the Countess in the balcony, which you can still access for great views.
We highly recommended you visit and go early so as to beat the rush of bus tours or later in the day, and take an audio guide as there are many artefacts that you will want to know more about.
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Location:EO Kerkiras Achiliou, Gastouri 490 84, Greece