Tobacco Factory | The story behind the 19,000 sq.m. industrial gem of Lenorman Street

Tobacco Factory | The story behind the 19,000 sq.m. industrial gem of Lenorman Street
The Tobacco Factory at 218 Lenorman Street, in the area of ​​Colonos, was the second public tobacco factory in Athens. It was built by the Greek State at the time when the cigarette manufacturing industry was flourishing, in order to house the tobacco processing and packaging businesses as well as the warehouses of the tobacconists, with the main purpose of the complete control of tobacco taxation.
The production of tobacco begins to acquire a weighty importance for the country's economy, being a valuable source of revenue for the Greek state.
In 1883 he proceeds with the taxation of tobacco under the ministry of X. Trikoupis (Government Gazette A421 /1883), where the first public tobacco factories are created at state expense and their operation is determined. Tobacco dealers and tobacco factories are obliged to process the tobacco in them and not in small private enterprises as was the case until then.
The state tax amounted to 40% of the price of cigarettes. At the same time, smoking is spreading rapidly in Greece and abroad. Tobacco became the country's most important export product, replacing raisins.
In 1925 the Greek State by passing a Legislative Decree (Government Gazette 233/A/2-9-1925) bought a plot of land of 9,118 sq.m from the widow Aikaterini Vryzakis in the Kolokynthos district and in 1927 civil engineers Pavlos Athanasakis and Antonis Ligdopoulos were entrusted with the preparation of the tobacco plant construction plans.
The fire that broke out in 1928 in the first Public tobacco factory and completely destroyed the building on Aristotelous Street made the construction of a new tobacco factory imperative, with the construction of the new one starting the same year and being completed 2 years later (1930).
Special attention was paid to the ventilation and lighting of the space, which is why very large windows were built on all sides. Ventilation in particular was very important for this building because the presence of possible moisture would create a problem with the smoke.
High taxation on tobacco led to smuggling and the introduction of customs at the tobacco factory. To further control the smuggling of the product, all the windows of the tobacco factory were covered externally with metal screens.
In its 65 years of operation, 25 cigarette factories were co-located on the premises of the tobacco factory. The LERTA tobacco factory was the first to settle and the SANTE tobacco factory left last in 1997.
The cigarette manufacturing industries located in the tobacco factory were:
• Nikitas Lerta-VEKA
• T.D. Georgiadis S.A
• Konstantinou brothers - SANTE
• Konstantinos Jamalis Ltd
• UFA-VELLOS
• Mr. Koutarelis
• Nik. Margaritis
• Nik. Karaklis
• Iosif Papazoglou- Cigar Industry
• Leonidas Papaioannou
• B. Karavasilis
• Capernaros
• I. Helmis
• E. Palaiokrassas
• I. Korakitis
• Stump
• Liapis
• Cooperative of Tobacco Manufacturers of Tobacco Market (SKAK)
• EVES. Hellenic Industrial Cigar Company
In December (1944), the building is occupied by ELAS groups who control the surrounding area. During the clearing operations at the end of December 1944 and the first days of January 1945, the building was hit by British mortars.
From 1948-1964, the Ministry of Health operated the Kolokynthos refugee care center in the tobacco factory, which provided shelter to needy families as well as refugees from Romania, Russia.
• 1945: Prisons for Military Service prisoners.
• 1963: Auditing Conference.
• 1964: General Directorate of the Press.
• 1968: Statistical Service.
• 1972: General Directorate of Taxation
• 1988: Ministry of Defense warehouses
In 1989, the Ministry of Culture designated the Lenorman Street public tobacco factory as a historic preservation monument along with its mechanical equipment, and it was judged to be a great example of industrial architecture.
In 2005, the restoration works of the facades and the surrounding area began and in 2008 their restoration was completed.
In 2016, the great work of reconstructing the glass roof took place - it was removed, repaired and put back in its original position.
In 2021, the NEON organization undertook the financing of the restoration and renovation of 6,500 sq.m. of the building, which remained locked to the general public for many years.
The building today houses the Directorate of Publications and Printing of the Parliament and the Department of the City Library and Library Systems Management, the Department of Preservation and Maintenance of Printed Material and Works of Art and, temporarily, the Department of Library Lounge and Collections of Political Personalities of the Directorate of the Library of the Parliament.
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[@andrefreitas63]

very nice flight my friend 👍👍

[@wind-up_team]

Καλημέρα Μιχάλη. Ιδιαίτερο αφιέρωμα σε μια ιστορική μονάδα. Ξέρεις εμείς κάποιων χρόνων που τα έχουμε δει να λειτουργούν μας δείχνει κάπως τελείως διαφορετικά από έναν νέο που δεν τα πρόλαβε σε λειτουργεία. Πολύ καλό το βίντεο. Καλό σαββατοκύριακο.

[@ninja-japan]

Great video as always! That's a beautiful factory! And the music is also wonderful! Thanks for sharing, my friend!🥷🇯🇵

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much , I wish you have a great day😀👍🙏

[@upstories]

Αυτά τα παλιά βιομηχανικά κτήρια και ειδικά οι καπναποθήκες είναι πραγματικά έργα τέχνης. Και υπάρχουν πολλά τέτοια κτήρια στην Ελλάδα και κυρίως σε Καβάλα, Ξάνθη και Δράμα

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Σε ευχαριστώ φιλαράκι μου !!🙏👍

[@andyboulbassakos]

πολυ ωραιο θεμα και υπεροχα πλανα Μιχαλη

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video and for your positive comments.😊

[@DavidLorenzoFlorida]

*Good footage and detailed history of the tobacco factory. When government places such high taxes on goods it is no wonder smugglers get involved. Well done. 👍*

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your kindness and support to me😊

[@droneartmedia]

Great flight of the tobacco factory and its history. Really enjoyed it Michael👍👍Have a great weekend my friend😀👍

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you so much for your wonderful support😊 Have a wonderful day.

[@CRVideos0877]

Wonderful drone flight!❤ Very good presentation of the old tobacco factory!❤ Congratulations, have a nice day! 💯

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video and for your positive comments.😊 Have a nice day. See you my friend.

[@norlee]

Thank you for a detailed introduction to the history of the tobacco factory, it has gone through so many years, and there are wars, and it is still maintained until now, it is not a simple thing, it is very memorable, great architecture, thank you for sharing. 😊😊👍👍

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video and for your positive comments.😊
Have a nice day. See you my friend.

[@HarlavanisPanagiotis]

Υπέροχο βίντεο Μιχάλη μου, καλές απόκριες και καλή καθαρά Δευτέρα με υγεία 😊

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Να είσαστε καλά κ.Παναγιώτη 😊 Σας ευχαριστώ !!

[@MicoGhostTheOldCodger]

Very nicely made video! Thank you so much for sharing it with us out here in CZcams land.

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed it.😊

[@EURAMBLER]

Good upload 👌

[@After.Gravity]

Πολυ ομορφο βιντεο και οπως παντα ενδιαφερον πλανα !
Μπραβο για την ιστορικη αναδρομη !
Καλη συνεχεια ...

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Από τα ομορφότερα βιομηχανικά εργοστάσια που έχω δεί από κοντα με μεγάλη ιστορία ...
Σε ευχαριστώ πολύ Χρήστο για τα καλά σου λόγια !!

[@drone_sixoch]

Thank you for introducing me to the tobacco factories and the beautiful streets of Greece😀

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video and for your positive comments.😊 Have a nice day. See you my friend.

[@kotasangg]

Not only is the size and color of the structures beautiful, but the beauty of the roofs seen from directly above is amazing!
Thanks for the great video! 🤩👍✨

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your kindness and support to me😊

[@Project_Longing]

The presentation of the history and factories of the Greek tobacco industry is perfect.
Aerial footage is also clear and beautiful🤗

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your kindness and support to me😊

[@mihaelaclaudiap..2]

Great video, loved the pictures you added on the screen as well! Great to be back, just saw a notification that you published a new video and I had to come watching! xx

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Glad you liked it, Mihaela😀Thanks for watching, your wonderful comment, and your support.
Take care and enjoy your weekend 👍👍

[@natureview2]

Wow, stunning new video. Really nice work Michael 👌👍🎥

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

I appreciate your support !! 👍👍

[@qzg15522]

It's a museum from the sky ❤️ Amazing 👍 Thank you 😊

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you for always watching😊

[@lu.do-box]

Des bâtiments chargé d'histoire. Ils sont magnifiques 👏👍

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you my friend :) I appreciate your continued support!

[@OthmarsVlog]

fantastic . . . well done and thumbs up 👍💥🎈

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you for always watching😊

[@JGucka]

This is again a well made video of you with awesome footage. It was very interesting to watch. Many greetings 😀

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video and for your positive comments.😊
Have a nice day. See you my friend.

[@SJMDronesMedia]

Thanks for sharing, regards

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you for always watching😊

[@TravelInspiration]

Πολύ ομορφη παρουσίαση Μιχάλη, μπράβο!!!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Σε ευχαριστώ πολύ Μαρίνο !!!

[@alexanyanEVN]

Thanx for sharing

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@hi-de5158]

Nice footage! Thank you for sharing!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video and for your positive comments.😊

[@Nicolae.95]

great video! thank you for sharing😀👍

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@ener7443]

i like the editing of your video. thanks for sharing.👍👍👍

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

I appreciate your support !! 👍👍

[@junibro9]

Nice View, Good!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you for your nice compliments.👍👍

[@konradarmata]

Very nice shots very nice video 🙂👍

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

I appreciate your support !! 👍👍

[@TasosFotakis]

Ευχαριστούμε Μιχάλη για το όμορφο βίντεο!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Σε ευχαριστώ πολύ Τάσο !!!

[@dronimahoney]

Stunning flight into the Weekend 👌

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you my friend :) I appreciate your continued support!

[@mytripland]

Βίντεο...ταξίδι στην ιστορία!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Να θυμούνται οι παλαιότεροι να μαθαίνουν οι νεότεροι !! Σε ευχαριστώ για το σχόλιο σου !!

[@video-tourist]

Very nice footages, as always!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video and for your positive comments.😊

[@petr-podrouzek]

Great job my friend 🙂

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thanks so much, Petr !!!

[@coptertravel1846]

Good 👍

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video 😊 Have a nice day. See you my friend.

[@np_production]

Ωραίο βίντεο & θέμα!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Σε ευχαριστώ Νίκο , καλό ΣΚ 👍👍

[@stressfreelife82]

cool view

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you for your nice compliments.👍👍

[@OpheliaD]

ΤΕΛΕΙΟ!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Σε ευχαριστώ Οφηλία μου !!

[@ArpoVe]

awesome 👍👍💯Lk 48 and subbed

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@MRGAUNTLET8891]

Michael Miller | Millerium captivating glorious magnificence majestic spellbinding brilliance noteworthy stellar excellence

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thank you very much for your watching my video and for your positive comments.😊 Have a nice day. See you my friend.

[@Florian-Art]

Cool factory!

[@Millerium-MichaelMiller]

Thanks so much 🙏