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The traditional villages of Kato Nevrokopi

26 February 2012 / 22:02:05  GRReporter
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In the border area Nevrokop, northern Greece, you will find many beautiful small villages where you can enjoy the pictureque scenery and the hospitality of the locals. A visit to the villages of Pagoneri and Peritori (or Chereshovo and Strachishta in Bulgarian) which were declared as traditional and are protected, will surely impress you.

The Kato Nevrokopi Municipality (or Zurnevo in Bulgarian), in the Drama region, (http://bit.ly/Katw_Nevrokopi), is the largest municipality in Greece with its 17 sections. Here you can practice tourism in all seasons of the year. This is a particularly beautiful border area in northeastern Greece, with people who manage to preserve its beauty, traditions and the quiet daily life, away from the big city.

The whole area of Nevrokop can be called "a monument of nature" as it is surrounded by high hills, with rich flora and fauna. It is also known for its polar cold weather, and temperatures in winter fall to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

In the centre of the region rises Mount Falakro (or Bozdag in Bulgarian), one of the highest mountains in Greece, from where you can see neighbouring Bulgaria.

Tourist infrastructure in Nevrokopi meets the needs of the region, and of course there are many prospects for development.

Throughout the whole area you will find hotels and rooms to rent of all categories.

In the region of Nevrokop you can visit many beautiful small villages - Volak (very close to the ski center Falakro), Granitis (or Ruzhdene in Bulgarian) Pagoneri, Peritori, Livadaki (or Livadishta in Bulgarian), Delta Katafito (or Karakyoy in Bulgarian) and all villages in the area are wonderful places for recreation.

It is worth visiting the two protected villages of Pagoneri and Peritori. The first is located 672 metres above sea level, northeast of Kato Nevrokopi. Its springs with icy water, which the village took its Greek name from (in Greek pagos means ice, and Nero - water), the impressive bell tower of the stone built church "Assumption", the cobbled square, the houses with balconies, picturesque narrow streets, evoke memories of bygone times.

On the other side of Kato Nevrokopi, to the southwest, at an altitude of 585 metres is the village Peritori. In the past, it was one of the main villages in the region, with active economic and social activities. The basilica "St. Nicholas" with three auditoriums and wooden roof, from 1835, is located there and this is perhaps the oldest dated monument of the kind.

Even today Peritori is still developing diverse economic, cultural and sports activities. There you can visit workshops for the packing of potatoes, where you will see the process of packaging and distribution in major cities throughout the country of the famous potatoes grown in this area.

Interesting attractions in the area

The ski center Falakro (www.falakro.gr/#) is a famous representative of the Greek winter tourism and not only. This is one of the best ski resorts in Greece, with 21 unique natural tracks with a total length of 17 km and varying degrees of difficulty. There are three cabins there and various types of lifts.

However the Falakro Mountain is suitable for visiting not only in winter as it is known as the "mountain of the flowers" or as the "botanical paradise in the Balkans" because of its rich flora. It is suitable for hiking, climbing and mountaineering. The ecological value ​​of Mount Falakro is recognized through its inclusion in the "Natura 2000".

The Ohiro village (or Eles in Bulgarian), 40 km away from Drama, is also worth a visit as it is known for the famous line of fortifications from the World War II and the heroic resistance of the few Greek soldiers against the German troops in April 1941.

On the hill near Ohiro is the impregnable fortress Lise, with its tortuous underground galleries and the small museum you can visit on the 6th of April or the first Sunday of the month, when it opens for visitors on the occasion of the annual celebrations. During the rest of the time the place is open primarily for organized visits, after co-ordination with the military authorities.

Another great place, that combines mountains and forests, is the area around the pond Levkogion (or Belotinsko Lake in Bulgarian) which is used for irrigation of all agricultural fields in the area, and along with this it is a place for relaxation, where you can eat, fish or hunt game.

You can also make a trip to the mythical river Mesta, or its feeder Despatis (in Bulgarian the River Dospat), which is located among the green forest.

You can find additional information about Kato Nevrokopi and the surrounding villages on the web page: www.nevrokopi.gr/.

You can choose where to stay and where to dine among the companies from the web sites: www.nevrokopi.gr/diamoni_fagito.html and http://www.drama.gr/indexen.php.

Tags: Kato Nevrokopi Zurnevo traditional villages Nature 2000 tourism
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