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FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY

OUR STORY


This page invites you to explore the past and discover the people and events that have shaped La Belle Hélène de Ménélas into what it is today. It is both a tribute and a living historical record, honouring those who first envisioned it, those who graced it with their presence, and all that they left behind - lasting traces etched into its walls and preserved in its memory.

Before
After

A historical frame across two eras


A moving portrayal of then and now. A unique 70-year journey between two eras, brought back to life through a remarkable visual comparison.
THE HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPH · 1955

On the left, the lens of Robert A. McCabe captures Agamemnon Dassis, one of the inn's first owners, standing at the entrance of the original La Belle Hélène with his daughter, Panagoula.

THE REBIRTH OF TODAY

On the right, the once "impossible dream" of Stelios Maragos and his wife, Georgia Dinou, became a reality in 2026, breathing new life and renewed splendour into this historic inn.


LA BELLE HÉLÈNE


ΧΑΙΡΕ ΞΕΙΝΕ ΠΑΡ ΑΜΜΙ ΦΙΛΗΣΕΑΙ


Built in 1862 on the outskirts of Mycenae, the imposing two-storey stone house of the Christopoulos family—the largest and most prominent of the only six houses that stood in the area at the time—was destined to become part of one of the most significant chapters in the history of world archaeology. In the summer of 1876, the German amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann made it his residence during his landmark excavations of the Shaft Graves of Mycenae. By his side was Giannis Christopoulos, one of his earliest and most trusted workers.

 

It was Schliemann who gave the small inn the name "La Belle Hélène", in honour of his Greek wife, Sophia, whom he symbolically associated with the legendary Helen of Troy and with the extraordinary jewellery he believed he had brought back to light through his excavations - the very treasures later immortalised in the famous photograph of Sophia wearing the so-called Jewels of Helen. It was also Schliemann who suggested that the inscription «Χαῖρε, ξεῖνε, παρ’ ἄμμι φιλήσεαι» be carved above the main entrance. The phrase comes from The Odyssey, where Telemachus welcomes the disguised goddess Athena, meaning: "Welcome, stranger; here you shall find hospitality."


From that moment on, the house gradually evolved into an inn, welcoming archaeologists, travellers, artists, and distinguished visitors from around the world who wished to experience the unique atmosphere of Mycenae. Among them was Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil and the first official visitor to Schliemann's excavations. For decades, La Belle Hélène became far more than a place to stay. It evolved into a gathering place for scholars, artists, and explorers - a place where history met myth.

 

The inn later passed to the Dassis family when Ioanna Christopoulou, daughter of Giannis Christopoulos, married Dimitris Dassis, who went on to become one of the region's pioneering hoteliers. Their son, Agamemnon Dassis - the man depicted in the historic photograph of 1954 above—worked briefly on the Mycenae excavations during the 1920s before dedicating himself entirely to La Belle Hélène. A historic hotel that has remained alive through the decades, carrying the memory and character of an entire era, and continuing to stand today as one of Mycenae's most enduring landmarks.

FROM THE GUEST BOOK

Testimonies of a Historic Hospitality

George Seferis

Nobel Prize-winning Greek poet & diplomat.

George Seferis visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas, where he dined with French statesman and scholar Édouard Herriot and close friends. One of the most influential figures of modern Greek literature, the Nobel Prize-winning poet maintained a profound connection with history, mythology and the Greek landscape - elements that deeply shaped both his literary work and intellectual thought.

2 September 1929

Agatha Christie

The world's most celebrated crime novelist of the 20th century.

Agatha Christie visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas during a period when her travels were closely linked to archaeology through the expeditions of her husband, Max Mallowan. The atmosphere of Mycenae and the site's rich history appear to have held a particular fascination for the renowned author, who is among the distinguished personalities welcomed by the historic inn. To this day, the room where she stayed continues to bear her name, in tribute to her memory.

26 April 1909

Ioannis Gennadius

Greek diplomat, scholar & benefactor of the Gennadius Library.

Ioannis Gennadius visited La Belle Hélènede Ménélas with his wife, Anthi, at a time when Mycenae had become a meeting place for leading figures of literature and intellectual life. The son of the great benefactor Georgios Gennadius - a member of the Filiki Etaireia (Society of Friends) and a participant in the Greek War of Independence - he became one of the most distinguished personalities in Greece's intellectual and diplomatic circles during the early 20th century.

6 April 1907

Albert II of Belgium

King of the Belgians (1993–2013).

Albert II of Belgium visited La Belle Hélènede Ménélas at the age of just twelve, accompanied by the American professor and archaeologist Carl Blegen. The youngest son of King Leopold III of Belgium and the future King of the Belgians, he is among the internationally renowned figures who crossed the threshold of Mycenae's historic inn.

27 July 1946

Frédéric Boissonnas

Franco-Swiss photographer & pioneering philhellene traveller.

Frédéric Boissonnas visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas together with his close collaborator and travelling companion Daniel Baud-Bovy, accompanied by two fellow Swiss travellers. Through his remarkable photographic work, he introduced early 20th-century Greece to an international audience and made a lasting contribution to the development of Greek photography. His name later became associated with the first officially recorded ascent of Mytikas, the highest peak of Mount Olympus.

8 June 1908

Angelos Sikelianos

One of Greece's greatest poets & playwrights.

Throughout the 1920s, Angelos Sikelianos was a frequent guest at La Belle Hélène de Ménélas, accompanied by his American wife, Eva Palmer, and the celebrated composer Dimitri Mitropoulos. His profound devotion to the ancient world often led him to leave before dawn to stand before the Treasury of Atreus. Returning to the inn, he would say with deep emotion and enthusiasm to Agamemnon Dassis: "Today, my dear friend, I spoke with the son of Atreus."

30 August 1927

N. G. L. Hammond

British historian & leading scholar of the ancient Greek world.

N. G. L. Hammond first visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas on 6 April 1930, returning again in 1975. A distinguished scholar of ancient Greek history and a fluent speaker of Greek, he consistently defended the Greek identity of Macedonia and actively supported the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Greek culture, he was awarded the Golden Phoenix by the Greek State.

25 July 1975

Robert Debré

Distinguished French paediatrician & pioneer of modern paediatrics.

Robert Debré visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas, leaving his own signature in the historic guest book of the inn. Widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern paediatrics and one of the most influential physicians in France, his legacy lives on through Hôpital Robert-Debré, Paris's largest children's hospital, which proudly bears his name.

3 April 1936

Edward VIII

King of the United Kingdom (January - December 1936).

Edward VIII visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas together with Princess Marina, daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. The eldest son of King George V, he remains one of the most iconic figures of the British monarchy, remembered as the king who abdicated the throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson, choosing love over the Crown.

20 November 1952

Sir Alec Guinness

Legendary British actor & Oscar winner.

Sir Alec Guinness stayed at La Belle Hélène de Ménélas with his wife, Frida, spending several days at the historic inn in Mycenae. According to the recollections of G. A. Dassis, their conversations were particularly memorable, as the acclaimed British actor displayed a profound knowledge of and appreciation for ancient Greek history and archaeology. He took a keen interest in the archaeologists who had worked at Mycenae and also visited the Heraion of Argos, already well acquainted with its history and significance.

24 September 1962

Virginia Woolf

British writer & leading figure of literary modernism.

Virginia Woolf visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas together with Leonard Woolf, Lytton Strachey, and Roger and Marjorie Fry, leaving their signatures in the historic guest book of the inn. According to G. A. Dassis, particular significance was also attached to the celebrated writer's personal diary, in which she referred to her visit to Mycenae and La Belle Hélène de Ménélas. These records connect the historic hotel with the legendary Bloomsbury Group and some of the most important intellectual figures of the era.

25 April 1932

Jacob Rothschild

Member of the historic Rothschild banking dynasty.

Jacob Rothschild visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas, continuing a long-standing connection between the Rothschild family and the historic inn, as members of the family had been visiting it since 1933. The presence of one of Europe's most powerful and historic families is yet another testament to the international prestige and reputation that accompanied La Belle Hélène de Ménélas throughout the years.

20 August 1959

Nicholas Egon

Acclaimed British painter & distinguished portrait artist

Nicholas Egon first visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas in 1949, as he himself mentions in his comment in the historic guest book. During his final visit, he returned with his beloved Greek wife, Mati Xyla of Chios, as well as a French noble couple. While looking through the guest book, his wife discovered the signature of her grandmother, Baroness de Rohan, dating from 1924 - a deeply moving moment that once again highlighted the timeless value and human connections of La Belle Hélène de Ménélas through the years.

25 September 2009

Herbert Lionel Adolphus Hart

Distinguished British legal philosopher & Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of Oxford.

Herbert Lionel Adolphus Hart visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas together with fellow students from Oxford. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in modern legal philosophy, having profoundly influenced the study of jurisprudence and legal theory throughout the English-speaking world. His work, The Concept of Law, remains one of the most important books in modern legal philosophy.

27 September 1929

Cecil Beaton

Celebrated British photographer, costume designer & Academy Award-winning production designer.

Cecil Beaton visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas on 4 September 1937, accompanied by Lilia Ralli and two other friends. He was one of the leading figures of 20th-century British artistic and social life, renowned for his iconic portraits of members of the British royal family and internationally celebrated personalities from the worlds of fashion and cinema, as well as for his highly acclaimed work in theatre and Hollywood.

4 September 1937

Ludwig Cauer

Distinguished German sculptor.

Ludwig Cauer visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas in 1912 together with Karl Augen Schmidt, both from Kreuznach, Germany. Cauer was one of the leading figures of early 20th-century German sculpture, renowned for his public artworks and his significant contribution to the European artistic scene of his time.

10 June 1912

Christopher Dodd

American Senator & leading political figure in the United States.

Christopher Dodd visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas together with Wyche Fowler, at a time when he was already regarded as one of the most influential figures in American politics. Following a long and distinguished career in the United States Senate, during which he played a decisive role in major political and economic developments, his name later became associated with the landmark Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which reshaped the U.S. banking system in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis.

10 June 1912

J. K. Rowling

World-renowned British author & creator of the Harry Potter series.

J. K. Rowling visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas in the early 21st century. The author of the globally acclaimed Harry Potter series is among the most important literary figures of the modern era, having influenced millions of readers around the world through her work.

30 September 2001

Marinos Geroulanos

Distinguished Greek physician, benefactor & politician.

Marinos Geroulanos was one of the leading figures of Greek medicine and philanthropy in the early 20th century. He became renowned for his remarkable humanitarian and charitable work, founding the Geroulaneion Foundation and making significant donations to charitable causes and the Hellenic Navy. He also served as a Member of Parliament for Kefalonia before resigning to take part in the Asia Minor Campaign. His presence at La Belle Hélène de Ménélas is recorded on numerous occasions in the inn's historic guest book, beginning as early as 1907, together with his wife, Margarita Mitzlaff-Geroulanou, and on later visits accompanied by members of prominent families of the period.

17 Mar 1907, 15 Feb 1909

Elli Lambridi

Distinguished Greek philosopher, writer & intellectual.

Elli Lambridi's presence at La Belle Hélène de Ménélas is recorded on Christmas Day, 1927. She was one of the most distinguished figures of 20th-century Greek intellectual life, with a remarkable contribution to philosophy, literature and the country's cultural landscape. She was also the second wife of Nikos Kazantzakis.

25 December 1927

Henry Miller

World-renowned American writer.

In 1939, Henry Miller visited Mycenae and the historic La Belle Hélène de Ménélas, accompanied by his close friend, the distinguished Greek writer George Katsimbalis. Regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in 20th-century world literature, his deep admiration for Greece was immortalised in his landmark work The Colossus of Maroussi, in which he describes several moments from his experience at the historic La Belle Hélène de Ménélas in Mycenae.

Excerpts from his work

Mary Chubb

British writer & archaeologist associated with the excavations that brought Nefertiti to light.

Mary Chubb visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas in 1931 together with Hilary Waddington, following the archaeological excavations led by John Pendlebury's team at Amarna, Egypt. Together with John and Hilda Pendlebury, they toured Eastern Argolis and Corinthia under the guidance of Orestis Dassis. Mary Chubb was associated with one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, which brought the famous Bust of Nefertiti to light, and she returned to La Belle Hélène de Ménélas on four further occasions, in 1932, 1934, 1975 and 1976.

8 February 1931

Maynard Owen Williams

Pioneering American photographer, writer & National Geographic correspondent.

Maynard Owen Williams was one of the leading figures in 20th-century photojournalism and the exploratory expeditions of the National Geographic Society. A pioneer of travel photography, he became the first photographer to capture colour images north of the Arctic Circle, while his legacy continues to be honoured through the annual Maynard Owen Williams Award at Kalamazoo College. His presence at La Belle Hélène de Ménélas is recorded in June 1929, again in 1939, and later in 1949.

13 June 1949

Birgit Nilsson

Legendary Swedish operatic soprano.

Birgit Nilsson visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas in 1959, together with a small group of Swedish scholars led by Bernard Mellos. She was one of the greatest dramatic sopranos of all time, celebrated for her legendary performances in the works of Wagner, Strauss and Puccini, as well as on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala and the Royal Opera House. In 1981, Sweden honoured her with a postage stamp depicting her as Turandot and awarded her the Illis quorum gold medal. Her name was later associated with prestigious international awards that continue to honour her outstanding contribution to opera.

9 July 1959

Emmanuel Benakis

Greek benefactor, entrepreneur, politician & prominent figure of the Greek community of Egypt.

Emmanuel Benakis visited La Belle Hélène de Ménélas on 26 December 1928 as a friend of Dimitris Dassis. Born on the island of Syros, he was one of the most distinguished figures of the Greek community of Alexandria and became renowned for his remarkable philanthropic and national contribution. He served as President of the Greek Community of Alexandria, founded the Benakeion Orphanage, and made substantial donations in support of refugees from Asia Minor, hospitals, and major institutions, including the National Gallery of Greece and the Academy of Athens.

26 December 1928

Sources: Georgios-Achilleas Ntasis, «Κάποτε στην Ωραία Ελένη – Η ιστορία ενός ξενοδοχείου», EUROTA Publications, September 2012 • Wikipedia

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE HISTORY

Behind every page of the guestbook, behind every signature and every distinguished personality who passed through La Belle Hélène de Ménélas, there was always the Dassis family - Dimitris, Konstantinos, Spyros, Eleni, Agamemnon, Orestis, and, of course, George-Achilleas, the last descendant to keep the tradition of hospitality alive and to continue the hotel's story with the same respect, love, and dedication.

With simplicity, genuine hospitality, and a deep love for their homeland, they became the people who connected the historic hotel of Mycenae with travellers, artists, intellectuals, politicians, archaeologists, and internationally renowned personalities from around the world.

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The stories that have survived to this day represent only a small part of the long history of La Belle Hélène de Ménélas. The personalities featured on this page were selected almost at random from among thousands of distinguished visitors - both well-known and ordinary - who passed through the historic hotel over more than a century and a half of its existence.

Many others were equally remarkable - kings, scientists, artists, writers, military figures, as well as ordinary people - each leaving their own mark on the history of this place and, in turn, on the history of this hotel.

The history of La Belle Hélène de Ménélas does not belong to a building alone. It belongs to its people.

THE NEW CUSTODIANS OF A HISTORIC HOTEL


There are people who do not simply discover a historic place. They recognise it as something that has always been a part of them. This is how the rebirth of La Belle Hélène de Ménélas began.

 

Stelios Maragos, nephew of Panagoula, the little girl in the historic photograph of La Belle Hélène de Ménélas, grew up surrounded by stories, memories, and images of the hotel. An artist, visual creator, and tireless craftsman, he lives and creates in Mycenae, transforming clay, wood, metal, and forgotten objects into works filled with life and soul.

 

Together with his wife, Georgia, they first created Silo Art Factory, a unique space dedicated to art and creativity that has earned recognition and admiration both in Greece and abroad. Many of the objects found today throughout La Belle Hélène de Ménélas—old doors, wardrobes, furniture, and countless smaller treasures from another era—were collected, preserved, and brought back to life through their hands and care. Although Georgia is not originally from Mycenae, she embraced the place as if it had always been her own. Bound by deep mutual respect, admiration, and a shared passion for creation, they have walked together on a journey shaped by faith, hard work, and dedication.

 

Guided by the same love for their homeland, aesthetics, and craftsmanship, they decided to take the next step - this time in the world of hospitality - bringing their philosophy into spaces that honour history while offering authentic accommodation experiences. They first acquired a historic mansion in the heart of the picturesque Old Town of Nafplio, nestled among its historic cobbled streets, which they meticulously restored with absolute respect for its history and architecture, creating Silo Luxury Rooms.

 

They then created Silo Stone House, a traditional stone residence in the unique setting of Fichti, in the wider area of Mycenae, offering panoramic views while remaining completely faithful to the local architecture and tradition. As with every one of their creations, both properties are defined by respect for history, refined aesthetics, and authentic hospitality.

 

Yet La Belle Hélène de Ménélas was never simply their next project. It was a calling. A journey spanning three full years, marked by faith, perseverance, idealism, and countless hours of personal dedication. Together with their children - Dimitris, Zafeiris, Ioanna, and Angeliki - they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the rebirth of this historic place, honouring every stone, every room, every memory, and every soul that had passed through it.

 

To many, their vision may have seemed impossible. To them, however, it was simply the natural continuation of who they are.

 

Today, the historic La Belle Hélène de Ménélas opens its doors once again, ready to continue its long journey through history with new memories, new people, and new moments.

 

With great joy and heartfelt warmth, we welcome you once again to the historic La Belle Hélène de Ménélas of Mycenae.


164

YEARS OF HISTORY

From 1862 to the Present

9

THEMED ROOMS

Across the historic & new buildings

1000000+

HISTORICAL TRAVELLERS

From around the world

1,8 ΧΛΜ

FROM THE LION GATE

In the heart of Mycenae

6

GENERATIONS OF OWNERS

From the Dassis family to a new era

1,5 ΧΛΜ

FROM ATREUS' TREASURY

Next to the Mycenaean legend

4

ROOM TYPES

To Travel into the Past

360°

OF AUTHENTIC CHARACTER

Every corner tells a story

1+1000

HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCES

The story continues with you

The Next Chapter
of "La Belle Hélène"
Awaits You

We look forward to welcoming you, hearing your own impressions of La Belle Hélène de Ménélas, and beginning the next chapter of this story together. The very first message to be written in the new guestbook, continuing the legacy of the historic guestbook of La Belle Hélène, will remain here forever, as a tribute and as the beginning of a new era for this historic place. Thank you in advance.

user

Respectfully,
The Maragos Family

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