Castle of Rododafni

What if walls could talk? The walls of Castle of Rododafni could tell a tale of a duchess, a king, and a touch of gothic mystery. Castle of Rododafni sits on the slopes of Mount Pentelicus. It’s a unique structure. Its neo-gothic style stands out amidst the typical 19th-century Greek architecture. The castle was commissioned by a fascinating woman, Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, the Duchess of Plaisance. A supporter of the Greek Revolution, she arrived in Greece after separating from her husband, Napoleon’s former finance minister. The Duchess, a woman of means, acquired vast lands in Athens and the surrounding area, including Penteli. She dreamed of a summer retreat, a place where her daughter’s remains could rest. That dream began to take shape in 1840 with the construction of Castle of Rododafni. The design, surprisingly, wasn’t primarily by a Greek architect, but by Frenchman André Couchaud, though Stamatios Kleanthis did contribute to the auxiliary buildings. Local Penteli marble became the bones of this unusual castle. Sadly, the Duchess never saw her vision completed. She passed away in 1854, leaving behind a half-finished legacy. A local legend claims she purposely left her Penteli buildings incomplete, fearing a superstition that she would die upon their completion. After her death, the estate was sold to the Greek state. For many years, Castle of Rododafni stood silent and crumbling. Then, in 1959, it was reborn. The Greek state funded renovations. Architect Alexandros Baltzatis oversaw the work, completing it in 1961. Castle of Rododafni was destined for royalty. It became the country home of the young Crown Prince Constantine II, the future last King of the Hellenes. He resided here from 1961 to 1964. Today, the castle serves the community, hosting cultural events and housing a library. Castle of Rododafni stands as a testament to a remarkable woman’s vision and a unique chapter in Greek history.