About Vilelmine

1900 is a year of great political ferment in Chania! The town serves as the capital of the Semi-independent State of Crete and the so-called «Cretan Matter» is by now international. Political discussions are hot while military men, ambassadors and diplomats of all kinds of nationalities are flooding the streets, mixed with the locals, Cretans, Turkish-Cretans, Turks and many others.

It is a peak point in the history of Chania and this can but include cultural life. There is plethora of artistic activity, evident, to a large extent, of the newly arrived western european influences. Local architecture carries the signs of Neoclassicism and many beautiful new buildings make their appearance in town. «Vilelmine» is one of them.

Vilelmine Hotel

In 1898 the Fournarakis family started building their house at Betolo street, in the middle of the old town, with the back side of the building overlooking the court-yard of Trimartiri, the Metropolitan church of Chania. The construction was completed a few years later and the family moved into their new home.

This stone-made building is characteristic of the architecture of the time. With the exception of some damage due to WWII bombarding, which was fully repaired, it has been preserved until today and has been proclaimed national heritage. The remarkable renovation that took place maintained all the authentic architectural elements of the construction. Thus it looks almost exactly like it did when Vilelmine Fournarakis was a just a little girl!

Vilelmine grew up to be a beautiful young woman who lived comfortably, like most women of her age and social background. She was given the appropriate education, she had her circle of friends and she was exploring and enjoying life. One can easily picture what it might have been like back then, by browsing through the little album of questions and answers Vilelmine kept between 1926 and 1928. It was a popular romantic game for young people at the time to have a «Lefkoma» (album) of questions such as «what is love?», «which name do you like?» or «what is beauty?» and to have their friends write answers. Vilelmine’s «Lefkoma» has been preserved to this day and it is exhibited to complete the vibe of a past time one gets coming through the door of her home!