Achilleion Palace
The Achilleion in Gastouri, palace of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, with statues and gardens; only the outdoor areas are temporarily open.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Achilleion was built in Gastouri on Corfu for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, who loved the island and often visited it to find refuge from her personal tragedies. The palace was completed in 1891. The Empress decorated it with works of art inspired by Greek mythology and history, and its name refers to her love for Achilles, the central hero of the Iliad. After her assassination in Switzerland in 1898, the palace stood uninhabited for nine years.
In 1907 it was bought by the German Emperor Wilhelm II after two years of negotiations. Wilhelm made changes: he replaced the statue of the Dying Achilles with the large statue of the Victorious Achilles, renovated the gardens and brought in rare trees and plants, and he also built an observatory at Pelekas. During the First World War the Achilleion was used as a headquarters and hospital by French and Serbian troops.
After the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 the palace passed to the Greek state. In the Second World War it was again used as a military headquarters and hospital, first by Germans and then by Italians, and later it housed a school of fine arts until it fell into disrepair for lack of resources. After restoration works it was reopened to visitors; currently, new works limit visits to the outdoor areas and the Imperial Gardens.
Highlights
- Palace of Empress Elisabeth of Austria
- Imperial Gardens with statues from Greek mythology
- Statue of the Dying Achilles
- Statue of the Victorious Achilles
- Peristyle of the Muses with nine statues
Permanent exhibition
- Αυτοκρατορικοί Κήποι και Περιστύλιο των Μουσών – The palace gardens are decorated with statues from Greek mythology, among them the Dying and the Victorious Achilles, and with the Peristyle of the Muses.
- Founded
- 1890
- Operated by
- Εταιρεία Ακινήτων Δημοσίου Α.Ε.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Students aged 6–18, large families, students, military personnel, unemployed people and people over 67, with a valid ID or certificate |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 5 · Students aged 6–18: reduced ticket. Infants and children up to 5: free admission. |
| Seniors | €5People over 67, with ID, passport or another official document. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · People with disabilities with a valid disability card and one companion per person. |
| Students & apprentices | €5Students with a valid student ID. |
| Groups | –The leader and the guide of each group have free admission. |
Reduced tickets are issued exclusively at the museum's ticket offices. Free admission is also granted to licensed guides with a professional ID.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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