Achilleion

The Achilleion (Greek: Αχίλλειο, Katharevousa: Αχίλλειον) is a palace built on Corfu for Empress Elisabeth of Austria after a suggestion by the Austrian consul Alexander von Warsberg. Elisabeth was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of her only son, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria following the Mayerling incident in 1889, and a year later she had this summer palace built as a refuge.

Achilleion is located at Gastouri, a village about ten kilometres south of the city of Corfu, and provides a panoramic view of the city to the north, and the southern part of the island, framed by the Ionian Sea to the east.

The architectural style was designed to suggest an ancient palace of mythical Phaeacia. The motif centers on the hero Achilles of Greek mythology, from which the name is derived. Corfu was Elisabeth's favourite vacation destination and she wanted a palace to gratify her admiration for Greece, its language and its culture.

The property currently operates as a museum under the management of the Hellenic Tourism Development Company, within the Greek National Tourism Organization.

Text adapted from “Achilleion (Corfu)” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Achilleion ranks #299 of 7,738 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #7 of the 123 mapped in Greece. Founded 1890 — one of 562 atlas entries founded in the 19th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 46,476 times in the last 60 days, more than 99% of the atlas. 6 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Ioannina, 82 km away. See how Greece compares in the castle statistics.

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Read the full history on Wikipedia ↗