Kalavryta
history, sights and activities
The historic town of Kalavryta is one of the most exciting winter destination of Peloponnese, built on the slopes of Mt. Helmos.
A dreamy setting with picturesque squares, stone-paved streets and cute little houses. The trademark of Kalavryta is its small train, the “Odontotos” (a rare example of a fully functional cog railway). Its 22 km journey from Kalavryta to Diakofto is one of the most spectacular rail trips! The narrow gauge tracks follow the Vouraikos River through tunnels, over water-falls, along cliffs and through forests of pine and oleander.
Nature
The Cave of the Lakes
Near the village Planitero within a plane springs the Aroanios.
Formed in the area of Planitero and Arbounas villages of waters of the basin of Feneos arriving here by sinks. Supported by smaller Lagada Gravel streams and flows in a southerly direction until you meet with the Ladon river. Its length is about 10 km.
The region is known for its trout - farm.
Vouraikos River/Gorge
The Cave of the Lakes is located next to the street Kalavryta - Klitoria at an altitude of 827 meters. It is 17 km from Kalavryta and 9km from Klitoria. The road passes only a few meters from the technical entrance of the cave and just next to the natural. Lakes inside the cave is not something ordinary or universal, nor for Greece, which is a unique geological phenomenon.
The cave is a rare natural creation. Here the waters sometimes overflow in the winter and stagnate in the other seasons, in 13 terraced lakes.
The total length of the cave is nearly two kilometres and its shape is snake-like.
Planitero (Aroanios River Sources)
Vouraikos river springs from the mountains of Kalavryta between eastern extensions Erymanthos and western Helmos and flows towards the north west of Achaia law.
Its length is about 40 km. After Kalavryta the Vouraikos has opened deep and steep canyon in which moves the rack railway that connects Kalavrita with Diakopto.
According to legend, Hercules loved the Buddha daughter Nefeligereti and Eliki and opened the passage to reach down to the sea and to meet her. Since he took the name of the river Vouraikos.
Activities
Winter sport enthusiasts should definitely go to the Kalavryta Ski Center, one of the most renowned in Greece thanks to its modern facilities: 7 lifts, 12 slaloms, a snowboard park, a special slalom mogul and a snow tubing park.
Need more adrenaline rush? In the vicinity of Kalavryta you can follow hiking trails, hike down the Vouraikos gorge, go mountaineering, climbing, horse riding, off-road driving, mountain biking and parachuting! Please contact us for more info.
Need more adrenaline rush? In the vicinity of Kalavryta you can follow hiking trails, hike down the Vouraikos gorge, go mountaineering, climbing, horse riding, off-road driving, mountain biking and parachuting! Please contact us for more info.
History
The tragic history of Kalavryta reminds us the darkest side of human nature; in 1943 German occupying troops murdered all male population over the age of 14 and burned the town…Visit the memorial built to honour the dead, a large white cross on the top of the hill where the villagers had been executed, as well as the Municipal Museum of the Holocaust of Kalavryta where you can see exhibits related to the history.
Kalavryta is associated with another glorious era of Greek History; nearby is situated the famous Monastery of Agia Lavra, where the Greek revolution against the Ottoman Empire was launched in 1821. It’s here that Germanos, archbishop of Patras, raised the standard of revolt.
Don’t miss the awe-inspiring Monastery of Mega Spileon (Monastery of the Great Cavern) built in a giant cave and admire its wonderful frescoes and mosaic floors.