The Hotel Grande Bretagne at Syntagma Square of Athens

The Hotel Grande Bretagne is located in the center of Athens, on the north side of Syntagma Square, at the intersection of the streets of University and King George. It was founded in 1866 by Savvas Kentros, and in 1874, the hotel business moved to the building of Antonios Dimitriou's mansion, which was built in 1842, and which houses the hotel to this day. In 1878, Eustathios Lampsas, who had worked as a chef in the court of King George I, became a co-owner of the hotel, and it was completely renovated the following year to meet new European standards. In 1927, the hotel was expanded with a facade on Bucharest Street. In 1930, a new wing with 110 rooms was inaugurated on University Street, and in 1938, an additional 42 interior rooms were added to the building complex. At the start of the Italian invasion of Greece in 1940, the Hotel Grande Bretagne was requisitioned by the General Staff of the Army to house military and political services. Subsequently, the hotel fell into the hands of the Germans and Italians, and after the victory of the Allies, it was used by the British. Later, it served as the headquarters of the Greek Government returning from Italy, and during the December events, it was used as the headquarters of Prime Minister George Papandreou, the Cabinet, and British General Ronald Scobie. Pictured: The Hotel Grande Bretagne in Syntagma Square, Athens in 1890. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.