Greek PM Visits Dumfries House, Discusses Tatoi Revamp Plans

Charles, Prince of Wales, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Photo source: @PrimeMinisterGR

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Dumfries House estate in Scotland, earlier this week on the invitation of Charles, Prince of Wales, and among others discussed plans for the re-development of the former royal estate at Tatoi.

Last year, the Greek Culture Ministry announced that it was moving ahead with plans to convert  the 10,000-acre Tatoi Estate, 21km northwest of Athens, into a multi-space.

Prince Charles gave Mitsotakis a tour of Dumfries, an 18th-century estate, which is managed by The Prince’s Foundation charity and serves as a cultural hub hosting educational, environmental and cultural events.

Mitsotakis said Greece was hoping to do the same with the Tatoi estate so that it can serve as a center of culture, vocational training and rural entrepreneurship.

The Tatoi Estate. Archive photo: Ministry of Culture

Plans currently involve establishing Tatoi into a full-service tourist destination complete with luxury accommodation, wellness facilities, restaurants and winery, footpaths and sports activities including cycling and horseback riding, a forest village with agritourism infrastructure, research and training facilities in the fields of rural economy and the environment. Other objectives include restoring the former palaces and gardens and creating a museum.

Speaking during a teleconference with the SMI Greek Council and the Sustainable Markets Initiative, a project launched by Prince Charles, Mitsotakis said Greece has set aside significant resources for the restoration of Tatoi.

“Tatoi should not just be a weekend destination for Athenians who want to escape the city. It can become a real center of culture, vocational training, and rural entrepreneurship. What you have accomplished here is truly remarkable. And the way you interact with the local community really offers a lot of hope to young people and a much brighter future. So thank you again for sharing these experiences with us,” said Mitsotakis.

Photo source: @PrimeMinisterGR

It should be noted that an uncontrolled forest fire in 2021 caused serious damage to the woodland at the royal estate of Tatoi also destroying roofs and wooden frames of at least seven buildings.

The birthplace of King George II of Greece and the summer retreat of the country’s former royal family, Tatoi has remained closed since 1967. In 2013, the Federation for Cultural Heritage Europa Nostra included Tatoi on its most endangered sites in Europe list. The site is also protected by the Natura 2000 network as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Tatoi’s ancient and current official name is Dekeleia.