Patras was handed over to the French forces by the Turks in 1828 and, in 1829, General Maison handed it over to the Greek State. In the years that followed, the city developed rapidly. The trade of raisins was an essential factor for the city’s considerable economic growth, as this product was in great demand by Western Europeans and particularly the English. Production of raisins in 6.500 acres of land in 1833 rose to include 52.000 acres. Along the sea front of the city, which was uninhabited during the Ottoman rule, many warehouses and industrial buildings were constructed while, just two streets away from the sea, the neoclassical houses of the rich tradesmen were erected and lie there to this day. Patras had been Greece’s gate to Europe, since, during that period, the gulf of Amvrakikos marked the Greek borders and there was no other important harbour in the western coast of Akarnania. In the last decades of the 19^th century, 30 steam factories operated in Patras. At the same time, the railway connected the city with Aegio and, via Kryoneri, with Mesollogi and Agrinio. Patras rose to become the urban centre of the country as numerous commercial houses from abroad established their offices in the city. After the difficulties the city faced during the Second World War, a new period of industrialisation began, which declined mainly in the decades of 1980 and 1990 when many factories closed down.

From the beginning of the 20^th century, Patras regained the rhythm of growth that it previously had and the city re-blossomed, still remaining the umbilical cord connecting Greece with Western Europe via Italy. Many of the buildings built in the previous century are used today as cultural centres where exhibitions and cultural events take place. Moreover, the University of Patras has contributed considerably to the thriving of the city; it was established in 1964 and has grown to be the third University in Greece in numbers of registered students.

The Anglican (left) and the Catholic Church of the city of Patras both built by the communities of Western Europeans living in the city at the end the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. The Anglican Church is currently used as a gallery.

Barry Raisin Warehouses

The Barry Raisin Warehouses, right above the beach, are considered to be scheduled buildings and constitute an important sample of industrial architecture. They were used as warehouses from 1936 until 1986, when the export of large quantities of raisins ceased. Today, the buildings are galleries and cultural centres.

Barry Raisin Warehouses

Ag. Georgios Windmills

Build before the Second World War, the Ag. Georgios (St. George in Greek) flour industry building is situated at the northern side of the city. Its last floor is currently used as a gallery.



The Marangopoulos Building

The Marangopoulos Building is used for cultural events organized by the Municipality of Patras. (Pictures taken from the website of Cultural Patras 2006)

Vasileios Marangopoulos was born in 1873 and in 1893, he opened a small shop at the same spot where today one sees the imposing building once used for his expanded commercial activities. (Marangopouleio). In 1919, he established an industry for the production of socks and in 1923, he founded the industry Patraiki which was later taken over by the Katsampa family. In 1930, he established a huge raisin export industry and extended his commercial activities.

He was a great benefactor of the village of Vrachnaeaka, his place of birth. He died in 1944 in Athens. The Marangopoulos Building is an exceptional sample of industrial architecture of the years before the Second World War, with eclectic and art deco elements.





Ladopoulos Paper Industry Building

The Ladopoulos paper industry began its activities in 1928 and became one of the biggest paper industries of the Balkans. In 1980, the factory closed, leaving behind many buildings of exceptional industrial architecture (each new production machine introduced to the factory came with a new building or an annex to the building). A part of these buildings has been re-constructed to be used as a gallery.

Ladopoulos paper industry buildings and… plastic arts “refinements”

Exterior aspects of the Ladopoulos paper industry buildings

Internal views of the paper production machinery (Ladopoulos paper industry buildings)

In the courtyard space of the Ladopoulos paper industry buildings, ‘Theatron” was constructed and later housed performances of the Patras Cultural Capital of Europe 2006

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