en-Itinerary in the historical Kalavryta

Written by Maria Siritzidou

Itinerary in the historical Kalavryta

Kalavryta ..... a place full of history, full of memories of another era. A place where you feel awe and deep emotion walking through its streets. Your visit to this place will be forever etched in your memory! Kalavryta is a mountain town in the Prefecture of Achaia, built at the foot of Mount Helmos at an altitude of 735m. Their population amounts to 1,674 permanent residents.

Here in Kalavryta you can admire The Great Cave. The Mega Cave is a historical monastery of Kalavryta.

The Monastery, which is considered the oldest in Greece, was built in 362 AD. by the  brother monks, Simeon and Theodore from Thesssaloniki.

During the Revolution of 1821, the Monastery was a beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism but also a center of resistance against the conquerors and although it received many attacks, it was never conquered.

Kalavryta was one of the regions of Greece that deeply experienced the violence from the Nazi German army and during the Occupation. Most reports speak of more than 800 dead. Kalavryta is today a designated martyr settlement.

The Monument to Heroes in the Second World War

Of particular historical importance is the Primary school, which has been transformed into a unique Holocaust museum.

The Church of Agia Lavra, where the revolution was proclaimed by Palaion Germanos of Patras and the chieftains of the region and of the Peloponnese in general who had gathered there, also causes excitement and shivers.

The area of Kalavryta participated both in the Revolution of 1770 (Orlovika) and in the Struggle of 1821 where its outcome resulted in the liberation of a large part of today's Greece and the establishment of the independent Greek state.

In this remarkable place, you can also take the cog railway route from Kalavryta to Diakofto, a route that will take your breath away, as you cross the Vouraikos River Gorge and the nature of this Peloponnesian region. The cog railway was inaugurated in 1896 and was built to connect Diakofto with Kalavrita by rail. It was one of the most difficult projects for its time due to the particularly difficult terrain and the high altitude at which it ended, as Odontotos is the most mountainous railway in Greece. Many climbers and hikers flock to the area to traverse this route of about 22 kilometers.

It is also worth a visit to the Caves of the Lakes with the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

Don't forget to buy local products such as heather honey and sugar water as well as many other Greek products, to try local mezes in one of the many tavernas in the area and to visit Planetero just outside of Kalavryta, with the trout farms, where you can also do a taste test.

You can find many accommodations for all tastes in Kalavryta. I singled out S.Michele for the kindness of the hosts, the quiet and the natural beauty that surrounds the accommodation.

My visit to Kalavryta took place in the summer, but if you choose winter for your own visit to this place, a pass through the ski center of Kalavryta is worth it.

Kalavryta is a place with a deep history, in every alley and every street there is a whole story that will fascinate you and remind you that our ancestors fought bravely for the freedom of our country, our homeland, our Greece.