Elisabeth spent most of her married life travelling ( she only spent four years out of her marriage
actually living with the Emperor) and she saw very little of her children, who were by and large
raised by her mother-in-law Princess Sophie of Bavaria, who often referred to Elisabeth as their "silly
young mother". Although her life has been fictionalized in a flattering and romantic manner, some
biographers describe her as an extremely neurotic, unhappy woman full of all sorts of psycho-somatic
and emotional disorders, not unlike her notoriously mentally ill blood relatives. She was, however,
intelligent and in the course of her intensive study of Greek, Elisabeth learned Greek in its ancient
and modern and read and spoke it fluently, in fact better than many scholars.
actually living with the Emperor) and she saw very little of her children, who were by and large
raised by her mother-in-law Princess Sophie of Bavaria, who often referred to Elisabeth as their "silly
young mother". Although her life has been fictionalized in a flattering and romantic manner, some
biographers describe her as an extremely neurotic, unhappy woman full of all sorts of psycho-somatic
and emotional disorders, not unlike her notoriously mentally ill blood relatives. She was, however,
intelligent and in the course of her intensive study of Greek, Elisabeth learned Greek in its ancient
and modern and read and spoke it fluently, in fact better than many scholars.
She commissioned the building of a small but exquisite palace on Corfu designed by Italian architect
Raffaele Caritto. Ernst Herter, a famous German sculptor, created numerous works inspired from
Greek mythology. His famous sculpture Dying Achilles forms the centerpiece of the Achilleion
Gardens. The palace, with its lush gardens and breathtaking vistas of the Ionian sea, abounds with
scenes of classical history and art. Sissi often visited the place.
Raffaele Caritto. Ernst Herter, a famous German sculptor, created numerous works inspired from
Greek mythology. His famous sculpture Dying Achilles forms the centerpiece of the Achilleion
Gardens. The palace, with its lush gardens and breathtaking vistas of the Ionian sea, abounds with
scenes of classical history and art. Sissi often visited the place.
After her death, the villa sat unused and neglected until German Kaiser Wilhelm II purchased it from
her heirs in 1907, and it was he who renamed it 'Achilleion' as a tribute to the hero Achilles. He loved
the place as much or more as she once had and fully restored it. Expanding on the main theme of the
grounds, Wilhelm commissioned his own Achilles statue from sculptor Johannes Götz. It is a tall,
magnificent bronze sculpture that stands as guardian to the Gardens facing north.
her heirs in 1907, and it was he who renamed it 'Achilleion' as a tribute to the hero Achilles. He loved
the place as much or more as she once had and fully restored it. Expanding on the main theme of the
grounds, Wilhelm commissioned his own Achilles statue from sculptor Johannes Götz. It is a tall,
magnificent bronze sculpture that stands as guardian to the Gardens facing north.
The Achilleion property was used to house
government services and a number of its
valuable artifacts were auctioned off. During
World War II, the Axis used the Achilleion
as military headquarters, and after the war it
went to the Hellenic Tourist Organisation. It
was leased to a private company that used
the upper level as a casino and the lower
grounds as a museum from 1962 to 1983.
Then the palace management was returned
to the Hellenic Tourist Organization.
government services and a number of its
valuable artifacts were auctioned off. During
World War II, the Axis used the Achilleion
as military headquarters, and after the war it
went to the Hellenic Tourist Organisation. It
was leased to a private company that used
the upper level as a casino and the lower
grounds as a museum from 1962 to 1983.
Then the palace management was returned
to the Hellenic Tourist Organization.
| Sisi and the Achilleion |
Wilhelm was well-liked by local villagers
and he enthusiastically took great interest
in area archaeological digs and personally
took part in some. He built local bridges
and enhanced the palace with his own funds
so he could use it both as a summer
residence and a place to host diplomatic
missions. The Kaiser visited the palace until
1914 when World War One was declared.
The Achilleion was used during the war by
French and Serbian troops as a military
hospital. After World War I, the Achilleion
was torn away from the Kaiser and given in
way of "reparations" to Greece by terms of
the Versailles Treaty.
and he enthusiastically took great interest
in area archaeological digs and personally
took part in some. He built local bridges
and enhanced the palace with his own funds
so he could use it both as a summer
residence and a place to host diplomatic
missions. The Kaiser visited the palace until
1914 when World War One was declared.
The Achilleion was used during the war by
French and Serbian troops as a military
hospital. After World War I, the Achilleion
was torn away from the Kaiser and given in
way of "reparations" to Greece by terms of
the Versailles Treaty.
