Chlemoutsi Chlemoutsi ( or Χλουμούτσι ) is a medieval castle in the northwest of the Elis regional unit , Greece , 12 km west of Andravida , 13 km southwest of Lechaina and 6 km south of Kyllini . It was built by the Crusader rulers of the Principality of Achaea as their main stronghold , and is perhaps the finest fortification of the early " Frangokratia " period preserved in Greece . Its Greek name comes 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 , since the Venetians erroneously believed that it was the seat of the Principality ' s mint ( it was located in nearby Glarentza ) , which minted the silver " gros tournois " coins . History . The castle was built between 1220 and 1223 during the rule of Geoffrey I of Villehardouin , with the use of confiscated Church property . The castle overlooked and defended the port town of Glarentza . After the death of Geoffrey II Villehardouin , the castle followed the fortunes of the Principality . The Catalans under Ferdinand of Majorca took it in 1315 , but he was defeated and killed a year later by Louis of Burgundy . In the beginning of the 15th century , the castle passed into the hands of Carlo I Tocco . After the 1427 Battle of the Echinades , through his marriage with Maddalena Tocco , the Despot of the Morea , Constantine Palaiologos ( the future last Byzantine emperor ) gained possession of Elis , including the castle . Constantine established his court there , and it remained one of the seats of the Despotate until its capture by the Ottomans in 1460 . The area remained under Ottoman control until the Republic of Venice conquered the Peloponnese in the Morean War , with Chlemoutsi falling to Venetian hands in 1687 . Venetian rule was brief , as the Ottomans recaptured the area in 1715 , and held on to it until the Greek War of Independence in 1821 . On 10 November 1825 , the forces of Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt took the castle , where numerous locals had fled , after a brief siege and bombardment , which caused great damage to its southern walls . Following the Egyptian withdrawal in 1828 , the castle , partly razed by the Egyptians , became part of the modern Greek state . The castle today . Today the castle is a preserved landmark . Lights added to the castle in the mid to late 20th century and can be seen as far as 80 km by night . The castle hosts musical and other events every summer . Location . Chlemoutsi is located on a 220 m high hilltop at a small distance from the sea ( around 2 to 2 . 5 km ) in the westernmost point in the Peloponnese with a view of the Ionian Sea as well as Zakynthos and Kefalonia , also the small islets . Its strategic position offers views of large parts of Elis and Achaea . It was located close to the Glarentza Castle ( around 5 to 6 km ) and Andravida ( around 12 to 13 km ) , the capital of the Principality of Achaea . Architecture . The history of the castle ' s construction survives in the Chronicle of Morea . The castle consists of a large hexagonal keep at the top of the hill , while the more vulnerable sides are further enclosed by an outer wall . The castle was well suited for a princely residence : its halls , arranged around the inner courtyard , were spacious , comfortable , and well - lit , cool in the summer and provided with several fireplaces for the winter months . However , the architectural characteristics of the main keep are out of the ordinary for its supposed period of construction , and more in line with 15th century structures , which has led to uncertainty over its exact dating .