Folklore Museum Of Gavalochori
The Historical and Folklore Museum of Gavalochori is a village museum in Gavalochori, in the Apokoronas district south-east of Chania, housed in a traditional two-storey Cretan house. The Gavalochori museum was founded by royal decree in 1967 and opened to the public in September 1993.
The collection fills 7 rooms, covering crafts such as silk, bobbin lace, stonework and woodcarving, as well as Cretan history. Since 2010 the museum has been a public body run under the Municipality of Apokoronas.
The house that holds the museum
The museum building is a typical example of the traditional architecture of the area, laid out on two levels. Part of the house was built under Venetian rule, and the upper floor was added under Ottoman rule. The ground floor has an inner courtyard and a kamarospito, an arched house with its service rooms, while the upper floor holds the onta, the rooms of the house.
The building was lived in as a home until the end of the 20th century. Georgios and Maria Stylianakis donated it to the community of Gavalochori. The museum entrance was once the place where the household kept its donkeys.
What the 7 rooms show
The 7 rooms are arranged by theme, according to the Municipality of Apokoronas and the Greek Ministry of Culture. The folklore sections are listed below.
- The kamarospito, or arched house.
- Silk.
- Ceramics.
- Kopaneli, or bobbin lace.
- Stonemasons and stone carvers.
- The church, and woodcarving.
Each section uses explanatory texts, photographs, drawings and models, and the museum adds new exhibits every year.
The historical collection
The historical collection covers the long Cretan struggle for freedom. It displays weapons and swords from those wars, together with paintings and historical lithographs of key events in Greek and Cretan history.
Coins make up a second part of the collection. The museum holds Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman coins, coins of the Cretan State, and one coin from Syracuse dating from 405 to 345 BC. Medals won in battle by men of Gavalochori are also on display.
Opening hours and visiting
The museum opens every day through the summer season, according to the Municipality of Apokoronas. For 2026 the municipality lists the season as 1 April to 31 October, with opening from 10:00 to 18:00 on Monday to Saturday and from 11:00 to 15:00 on Sunday.
Outside the season, visits are by appointment on +30 694 489 9233. The municipality also runs an online tour of the collection.
Things to do near the museum
The museum has 8 villages and beaches within 5 km, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk around the rest of Gavalochori village.
- Visit the neighbouring village of Douliana, 1.8 km west.
- Drive to the village of Vamos, 2.3 km south-west.
- Swim at Almyrida beach, 2.9 km north on the coast.
- Continue along the shore to Plaka, 3.1 km north.
- Head inland to Kefalas, 3.5 km south-east.
- Explore the village of Sellia, 4.2 km south-east.
- Dive at the rocky cove of Ombros Gialos, 4.4 km east.
Getting to the museum
The museum lies in Gavalochori, an inland village of Apokoronas south-east of Chania. The village sits a short way back from the coast, 2.9 km south of the coastal village of Almyrida.
Chania airport is the nearest airport to this part of Crete. The village of Kokkino Chorio lies 3.5 km north-east of the museum.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Folklore Museum of Gavalochori?
The Folklore Museum of Gavalochori is in the village of Gavalochori, in the Apokoronas district south-east of Chania.
When did the Gavalochori museum open?
The museum opened in September 1993. It was founded by royal decree in 1967.
What can you see in the Gavalochori museum?
The museum shows silk, bobbin lace, ceramics, stonework and church woodcarving across 7 rooms, along with weapons, lithographs and coins from Cretan history.
How old is the museum building?
The building is partly Venetian, with an upper floor added under Ottoman rule. It was lived in as a home until the end of the 20th century.
Is the Gavalochori museum open in winter?
The museum is open by appointment outside the summer season, on +30 694 489 9233. For 2026 the summer season runs from 1 April to 31 October.
Location
Folklore Museum Of Gavalochori is located at Epar.Od. Galochoriou-Agiou Pavlou 26, Gavalochori 730 08, Greece. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
