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Η ιστοσελίδα της Π.Ε. Ξάνθης είναι ενημερωμένη μέχρι

την Τετάρτη 15/01/2020


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Abandoned mountainous settlements

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A tour of the mountainous Settlements of Xanthi

The traditional settlements of mountainous Xanthi are located in an area with a rare natural beauty and a particularly complex web of history and folklore. Hidden behind the mountains, they have stood the test of time, marked by the struggle of their inhabitants to survive.

The residents of these settlements have created a way of life that is inextricably linked to their surroundings and the limitations they impose, but which is also tied to their habits, customs, beliefs and traditions. Isolated from political and technological developments, they have managed to maintain their cultural identity and way of thinking.

Their buildings, even when deserted, bear witness to the identity of their residents, their profession and the social relationships that prevailed in these traditional mountainous communities.

The houses are made to fit in with the natural environment, and serve the needs and lifestyle of the inhabitants. Their primary features are a simple style of construction, small size, multifunctionality and a capacity to expand. The mountainous settlements present a particular interest since they are pervaded by a different lifestyle, that is totally foreign to the technological world we live in today.

The mountainous settlements of Xanthi are:

AGELI, AERIKO, AKRAIOS, ALIKOCHORI, ANTHIRO, ASKYRA, ACHLADIA, VASILIKA, VASILOCHORI, GIANNOCHORO, DOURGOUTI, ERANOS, ZAFEIRIO, THEOTOKAΤΟ, THΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ, IMERA, KALLITHEA, KALO NERO, KALOTYCHO, KALYVA, KAPNOANTHOS, KASTANITIS, KASTANOTO, KETIKIO, KORYFI, KORFOVOUNIO, KOTTANI, KOUNDOUROS, KRIOS, KROMNINO, LIVADI, LIVAS, LIVERA, LYKOTOPOS, LYKOVOUNI, MAKARIO, MARGARITI, MYRTOUSA, ORESTINI, PANERI, PASCHALIA, PELEKITO, PLAGIA, POLYSKIO, PORTA, PRIONI, REMATIA, RYMI, SEMELI, STAMATIO, SIDIROPETRA, TSALAPETEINOS, TSOUKA, YDROCHORI, CHALEPI.

NOTABLE BUILDINGS IN THE MOUNTAINOUS SETTLEMENTS

Aeriko settlement is close to Kastanoto, at an altitude of 500 m. It is known for its castle, which is similar to that in Myrtousa and Kalyva, and dates back to the 3rd – 4th century B.C.

Descending from Theotokos to Sminthi, we find Vasilochori settlement, where there used to be two bridges. One was washed away by the river and has been replaced by a wooden bridge. The one still standing is the bridge of Stamatis, an impressive stone construction with three arches.


Theotokato is about 1½ hours walk from Akraio and 45 minutes from Giannochorio. Along the whole route, to the right you can admire the meanders of the river of Satres, which joins Kompsatos river further along its route.


You can get to Kalotycho if you follow the dirt track leading to Iasmos. It is worth visiting the mosque in Kalotycho that stands next to the Primary school. To get there, you must cross a lovely small bridge bearing an inscription in Arabic. The bridge must be about 150 years old.


Fourteen kilometres from Neochori village, we arrive in Kalyva. Four kilometres before reaching the settlements, we come across the Castle of Kalyva at an altitude of 627 m. It was built by Philip II during the 4th century BC, at a position from which he could control the whole surrounding area.


The age of the houses in Kottani must be about 300 years. Above the village we can see a Muslim chapel which is covered by a huge rock. The locals say that it was placed there by God.

Livera are located at an altitude of 450 m, next to the river Nestos. A path connects the village with the Railway Station of Livera. Twenty minutes from Livera, there is an interesting cave.

Margariti is situated in a beautiful environment, at an altitude of 760 m. At the top of the village is the church of Agios Nikolaos, where on the Saint’s Feast Day, there is a meeting of the locals wherever they may happen to live. Those attending the festivities are offered a traditional dish, the keskeki, which consists of wheat, chicken and kid.

In the remaining settlements, there are few buildings, which do not stand close together. Many villages were built in a linear manner along the riverbed, and at times groups of buildings can be found, adapted to the morphology of the soil and the particular needs of each family. In the mountainous zone, a typical house has two floors and is rectangular in shape. The building materials used for its construction are supplied from the surrounding area: wood from the forests, schist from the mountains, rocks from the rivers.

SUGGESTIONS FOR VISITS AND HIKING ROUTES

Many of the traditional settlements of mountainous Xanthi are of particular interest to visitors who can access them by car or on foot. Educational visits can also be arranged in order to become acquainted with the local cultural heritage and the fauna and flora of the mountains.

VISITS BY CAR

  1. 1.Sminthi – Oraio – Theotoko – Stamati - Vasilochori
  2. 2.Sounio – Katsika – Ydrochori - Askyra
  3. 3.Kimmeria – Livadi – Prioni – Anthira - Eranos
  4. 4.Thermes – Medousa - Kottani
  5. 5.Mikro Tympano – Semeli – Ageli – Petroto – Toxotes - Imera
  6. 6.Paschalia
  7. 7.Satres – Rematia - Akraio
  8. 8.KallitheaMargariti – Kastanitis – Kalo Nero
  9. 9.Ioniko – Kastro Kalyvas – Kalyva - Sidiropetra

HIKING ROUTES

  1. ΚomninaKromniko - Livera Average Time: 4 hours – We follow the riverbed of Komnina torrent that leads us to Kromniko within an hour. We return to Komnina using the dirt track that passes above Livera and offers a panoramic view of Nestos river.
  2. Galani – Kromniko – Livera Average Time: 4 hours (parallel to Nestos river)
  3. Οrestini – Stasina Average Time: 2 hours – A route of exceptional natural beauty, that initially follows the stream of Orestini starting from the old school and ends at the abandoned forest road at the top of the hill.
  4. Xanthi – Makario – Xanthi Average Time: 4 hours – We set off from the Ecclesiastical School of Xanthi and follow the signs until the crossing where we turn right towards Avgo peak.
  5. Kimmeria – Plagia – Livadi – Vasilika – Porta – Prioni – Rymi - Fillia Average Time: 2 hours – The tour begins at Isaian Getik settlement and crosses the mountain slopes to the west.