Just a stone’s throw away from the centre of Athens (approximately 30 minutes by car) you will find what can only be described as paradise on earth. The Tatoi Royal Estate was once the summer retreat of King George and Queen Olga, before being converted to the royal family’s permanent residence in 1948. Dense forests overgrown with Aleppo pine trees, tall cypresses, poplars, plane trees, beech trees, Greek strawberry trees, olive trees, and citrus trees among others adorn the Tatoi estate, which is currently protected by the Natura 2000 network as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Of the 4,200 hectares of forest once belonging to the former royal family of Greece, 1,400 hectares were conceded by the Greek State (Bafi National Forest) to the Greek King in the year 1877. The rest were gradually purchased by the royal family under various contracts (including an 1891 purchase from Syngros). Tatoi currently belongs to the Greek State and is home to 40 historical buildings scattered among the estate’s forests and lush fields.

In years past, Tatoi was one of the most magical areas in Greece. Its dense forests were home to red deer, roe deer, wild boars and other smaller animals. The estate was also home to vineyards that produced select wines, vegetable gardens that grew the royal family’s vegetables, large expanses of citrus trees and extensive olive groves. The estate’s structures included stables for the horses and other animals, a winery, an oil mill, and a butter room, just to name a few. The palace building was an elegant two-storey building with charming terraces and a tiled roof that was once adorned by an ornate cornice. It is currently listed as a Modern Monument with plans to turn it into a museum in the coming years. The steps in the front lead to the estate’s swimming pool, with the tennis court lying just beyond.

On the right stands a low, stone building which once housed the kitchen and was connected to the palace by an underground passageway (a souvenir shop and small cafeteria are to be created here for visitors). The verdant estate hides many more buildings, such as the government house and the Tatoion Hotel (which may soon be converted into a small and elegant boutique hotel). On the other end of the estate, between the tall pine trees and slim cypresses, there lie the graves of royal family members and the chapel of the Resurrection.
These once abandoned buildings have all been touched by the relentless hand of time. However, as of late it appears that a positive wind is blowing and there is hope that an EU programme will be aiding its restoration and development, estimated at €110,000,000.

Those who wish to visit the former Royal Estate of Tatoi should know that it is open from sunrise to sunset. There are two entrances to the estate, one from Varybombi (right behind Leonidas Restaurant) and one from Lefka. There is quite a distance from the Varybombi entrance to the historical centre of the estate, so most visitors prefer to enter from Lefka for easier access. Tatoi is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, jogging and picnics in the countryside. Visitors can tour the buildings and royal cemetery, or take a trip to the artificial lake of Kithara, where they’ll enjoy an amazing view of the entire Attica basin.

To make the most of your visit, delve deeper into the history of the estate and the royals who lived there, by contacting the Tatoi Friends Association. The Association was founded in 2012 and dedicates part of its revenues to conducting detailed studies on the estate’s buildings in order to secure the funds required for its restoration. Tours are available through the Association as well. Representatives can pick you up by bus at Syntagma Square at 10.00am and give you a full tour of the most important parts of the estate, arrange your lunch at one of the traditional Greek restaurants in the area and provide transportation back to Athens at 6.00pm, returning you to the city with your head full of the beautiful images and exceptional knowledge gained on this excursion.

If you are interested in a tour, you can contact the Tatoi Friends Association by telephone on (+30) 69759 47248 (Mr. V. Koutsavlis) or by email to info@tatoi.org

The Association also provides private tours to members of diplomatic missions in Greece and foreign dignitaries visiting Athens upon request.