Springtime Road Trip in Evrytania

Evrytania is Greece’s smallest regional unit by way of space, essentially the most sparsely populated, and essentially the most mountainous. Inside its borders lie a few of the most distant villages within the nation, both nestled between the slopes of the Agrafa mountains to the north or additional south on the foothills of Mount Velouchi. Whereas the street community is proscribed, one significantly scenic route begins east of Karpenisi and stretches 68 kilometers to Lake Trichonida. This slim, winding provincial street winds via lush landscapes, charming settlements and putting landmarks, making it properly definitely worth the journey.

Ranging from Karpenisi, you’ll encounter a few of the most well-known villages of Evrytania. In the village of Koryschades, you’ll discover the Museum of Nationwide Resistance (Tel. (+30) 22370.249.96, open 10:00-15:00, closed Tue and Wed). The museum is housed within the outdated village faculty, the place, in Could 1944, the Nationwide Council of Free Greece was fashioned by the “Mountain Authorities” throughout the Nazi occupation.

A couple of kilometers additional down, simply outdoors the village of Klafsi and proper subsequent to the provincial street, you’ll come throughout Newton Park (seventh km Karpenisi-Proussos, Tel. (+30) 22370.246.14, open weekends 11:00-15:00), a themed park providing loads of enjoyable actions for kids.

Within the villages of Mikro Chorio and Megalo Chorio, you’ll discover many choices for a lunch break. The taverna To Choriatiko (Neo Mikro Chorio, Tel. (+30) 22370.412.57), serves conventional Greek fare corresponding to lamb in lemon sauce, giouvetsi, grilled meats, and spit-roasted delicacies. At Aghios Athanasios taverna (Megalo Chorio, Tel. (+30) 22370.412.50), don’t miss the savory selfmade pies, scrumptious grilled lamb chops, and orange pie for dessert. Following the banks of the Karpenisiotis River, the street crosses the Dipotama Bridge, solely seven kilometers from the village of Proussos.

Earlier than getting into the village, you’ll see the spectacular Proussos Monastery, constructed into the cliffs. Relationship again to the ninth century AD, the monastery performed a key position throughout the Greek Warfare of Independence in 1821 – hero Georgios Karaiskakis even sought refuge in its cells for a time. Though it suffered extreme harm by the hands of the Germans in 1944, the monastery has since been step by step restored.

Simply previous Proussos, it’s price visiting the Stremmenos charcuterie (Tel. (+30) 22370.808.10, open day by day 08:00-14:00), the place you’ll be able to watch conventional strategies of curing meats and decide up native specialties corresponding to air-dried salami, leek sausage, and prosciutto. From right here, you may as well entry the path to the Black Cave (Mavri Spilia). This 30-minute forest hike passes waterfalls, wood bridges, and resting spots, earlier than reaching at a historic cave that when served as a hideout throughout each the Ottoman and German occupations.

The street climbs via dense vegetation earlier than descending towards the villages round Lake Trichonida. In the village of Thermo, go to the stone-paved sq. with its airplane bushes and sculptures, and don’t miss the Thermo Archaeological Museum (Tel. (+30) 26440.233.36, open day by day besides Tue 8:30-15:30), the place you’ll discover artifacts from a prehistoric settlement.