Chlemoutsi, Medieval castle in Kastro, Elis, Greece

Chlemoutsi is a medieval castle built on a high hilltop with strong stone walls surrounding the entire structure. Inside, a six-sided central tower connects to arched rooms that face an open courtyard in the middle.

The castle was built in the early 1220s by French Crusaders as their main fortress to defend the region they controlled. It remained a key military post for centuries after its construction.

The name derives from the French Clairmont or Clermont, which the Greeks rendered as Chloumoutsi and later Chlemoutsi; Greek, Albanian or Slavic roots have also been suggested. From the 15th century Italian sources called it Castel Tornese, confusing it with the mint of silver tornese coins at nearby Glarentza. The keep's two-storeyed halls along the inner courtyard show Frankish building methods.

The site is easy to reach on foot and has walkways through the ruins plus a small museum with information inside. It helps to check opening hours ahead of your visit since times change with the seasons.

Despite its long history, the fortress was never seriously attacked or taken over, making it a rare example of an undamaged Crusader-built structure. This fact helped it keep its original shape across the centuries.