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| Pangeo | ||
| prefecture | Serres | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | 1,956 m | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Pangeo (Greek: Παγγαίο or. Oros Pangeo Όρος Παγγαίο, too Pangeon, Pangaeum, Pangaio) is the name of a mountain range in northernGreece
Regions
The Pangeo mountain range is included Kavala in northern Greece in the second row behind the Symbolo range of hills by the sea, surrounded by fertile valleys and in front of the mountain range of the farther north Rhodope Mountains. The ancient one ran along the north side Via Egnatia.
The special natural beauty of the mountain range, with many important monasteries and archaeological sites, romantic mountain villages and the close proximity to wonderful beaches make it a touristically varied area.
places
- 1 Elefteropolis. With its approx. 5000 inhabitants, Elefteropolis is the largest town in the municipality of Pangeo and the seat of the municipal administration. Here you will find the best shopping opportunities with specialty shops and large supermarkets.
background
At almost 2000 m, the Pangeon mountain range is the highest mountain near Kavala, with picturesque mountain villages, a multitude of monasteries and impressive vegetation. At the foot, the vegetation begins with the typical Mediterranean maquis (low, stunted hard-leaved plants) and then slowly, with increasing height, turns into a dense deciduous forest and further above finally into a coniferous forest and then reaches the tree line. From then on only grasses and herbaceous plants grow (including the Greek mountain tea).
It is significantly cooler in the mountain villages than at the sea. The mountain villages are the ideal place to stay for those who don't like the summer heat but still want to spend their holidays on the coast. It is a 20-minute drive to the sea by car. But the nights are cool in the mountain villages, so you don't have to fear the summer heat.
getting there
The Pangeo area is easily accessible via the E90 motorway, with exits at Orfani, Mousteni and Exochi / Elefteropolis. The city of Elefteropolis can be reached by long-distance bus from the bus station Thessaloniki or Kavala. The nearest airport is in Kavala. You can, even if it is a bit inconvenient, by train from Thessaloniki to drama and from there by bus to Elefteropolis.
mobility
You can get to almost all villages by bus from the bus station KTEL Elefteropolis reach out. It just takes a lot of time. By far the best way to explore the area is by car. A 4WD is recommended so that you can also drive on the unpaved high-altitude trails. Rental cars are available in Kavala. Because of the often winding roads, the area also has very beautiful motorcycle routes. Mopeds can also be rented in Kavala, directly opposite the aquaduct
Tourist Attractions
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On the north side
Of Kavala Coming from the street at Eleferopolis divides into a northern and a southern bypass of the Pangeon. If you follow the northern bypass, then after about 3 km you come to the crossroads after the village of Hortokopi. Above the village in the mountains (3km) is the remarkable monastery
- 1 Pangaiotissas Monastery (Assumption of Mary). Worth seeing, quite large monastery complex above the village of Hortokopi, beautifully situated.
Another 8 km to the very attractive village:
- 2 Paleohori. Above the village there is a worthwhile one Hiking trail to the castle ruins (about 2km) with a wonderful view over the mountain range and the plain of Drama. A number of good restaurants with a wonderful view are also worth a visit. The village is centrally located and well suited to take up quarters here. You can get to Elefteropolis as a larger town quite quickly, as well as Kavala if you want to escape the tranquility of the villages. The way to the beach is also not far and the village center is beautifully designed so that you can stroll a little in the evening and then eat well in one of the restaurants.
After another 8km you come to the most famous mountain village of the Pangeon
- 3 Nikisiani. Above the village, it is worth visiting the restaurants with an impressive view of the Drama plain and the Pangeon. Because of the altitude, it is refreshingly cool here even in midsummer. From the end of the street, at the "Kastanies" restaurant, there is a very nice one trail to a small waterfall (800m) and an old bridge (1600m).
The famous sight on the north side of the Pangeon is that
- 2 Ikosifinissa Monastery. approx. 15 km from Nikissiani towards Thessaloniki. It is well signposted high on the mountain with excellent paintings and impressive architecture in a fantastic location. A cafeteria in front of the monastery offers refreshments and a cool place to linger. The Ikosifinissa Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries and centers of Orthodoxy in the Balkans.
Above the monastery, a high road leads back 6 km Nikissiani, past other, also worth seeing, monasteries.
- 3 Monastery of John the Baptist (Ιερά Μονή Αγίου Ιωάννου Προδρόμου). smaller monastery with a wonderful view.
- 4 Axion Esti Monastery (Μοναστήρι Άξιον Εστί). A monastery built on a rock with a wonderful view.
- 5 Agios Dimitrios Monastery (Ιερά Μόνη Αγίου Δημητρίου). Very beautifully situated monastery with a lovingly laid out monastery garden and a small shop for selling their products.
Another attraction in this area is the little known one
- 1 Angitis Canyon. near the village Nea Mpafra. About 800 m after the village in the direction of Drama there are grain silos on the left. After the silos, turn left and after approx. 3 km you will reach a large parking lot on the edge of the canyon. The junction is signposted. From the parking lot, footpaths lead along the canyon and to the opposite side Alistrati stalactite cave. There is also the only cafeteria in the vicinity of the canyon, which is quite hot in summer.
If you follow the road in a south-westerly direction to the village of Proti, you will reach the after about 14 km
- 6 Monastery of the Holy Assumption of the Lord (Ιερά Μονή Αναλύψεως του Κυρίου). one of the most beautiful monasteries in the area and definitely worth a visit, also or precisely because of the magnificent mountain landscape. In the village of Proti, located below the monastery, a restaurant and a cafe land on the square in the center for a visit with untouristic, village-like charm.
- 7 Monastery of Agia Paraskevi (Μονή Αγίας Παρασκευής). Well worth seeing monastery with a small zoo and shopping for monastery products.
- 1 Old five-arched stone bridge of Aggista Station. Old stone bridge over the Aggitis river. Next door is a very nicely located cafe under plane trees.
- 2 Angista Roman mansion (Angista Mansion). The ruins of the villa, which occupies an area of 1,100 square meters, consists of the official rooms (triclinium), the atrium, a complex of small rooms and an octagonal tower in the southwest corner. Only the foundation walls are preserved.
- 4 Railway bridge at Myrkinos (Perivolaki – Nea Zichni railway line).
Of the Railway line , the railway line built under British supervision during World War I and revived by the Wehrmacht in World War II, there are almost no traces left. After the end of the Second World War, the line was abandoned in 1947. The relatively well-preserved bridge in a beautiful location over the Aggitis river and the ruined ones 3 old station building are the only contemporary witnesses. Today they are "lost places". A little below the bridge you can swim in the river in summer.
On the south side
If you want to get to the summit, you follow it southern street around the Pangeon from Elefteropolis.
- 2 Summit of the Pangeon. Of Elefteropolis in the direction Thessaloniki driving you turn in the next village (Akrovouni / Panagia) turn right in front of the petrol station and follow the road that leads to the summit of Pangeon. After about 20 minutes you reach the worth seeing on a winding, narrow road 8 Ypapanti Monastery (Ιερά Μονή Υπαπαντής). Directly behind the monastery is a derelict ghost village (Akrovouni), which has a strange charm with its derelict houses. Because of the altitude, it is already much cooler here and you should take a light jacket with you even in summer. 3 km after the monastery it is Dasiko Horio, a log cabin excursion restaurant with a wonderful view. In the hot summer months you can escape the heat here because of the altitude. In winter it is a cozy place to drink a wine by the large open fireplace. The drive from here to the summit of the Pangeon takes about 1 hour, on a badly damaged asphalt road. It leads through dense deciduous and coniferous forests until you finally reach the ski center above the tree line. It is not cultivated in summer. The view is breathtaking and worth the strenuous drive if you have chosen a clear day. The path to the top of the mountain with its antenna systems is closed to cars, but can be reached by motorcycle on a dirt road. It is a 50-60 minute walk from the ski center to the top of the mountain.
Worth seeing is on the way from Eleftheropolis in the direction Thessaloniki nor the monastery of Agio Panteleimonos and the traditional Berdörfer Mousteni and Mesoropi, which are located with their natural stone houses and narrow streets in a particularly beautiful landscape. Several good restaurants are available in the villages as it is popular as a day trip destination from Kavala ..
- 9 Agiou Panteleimonos Monastery (Μόνη Αγίου Παντελεήμονος). Located above the village of Chrisokastro with a wonderful view of the valley and beautiful gardens.
- 4 Mousteni. beautiful mountain village with a well-known restaurant Mpostani and the Dionisos Village Resort, a romantic hotel complex in the log cabin Stiel in the mountains above the village. At the entrance to the village, coming from Kavala, there is "Trypes tis Panagias", a must-see Cave church in the immediate vicinity of the ancient city of Pergamos.
- 5 Mesoropi. Worth seeing mountain village with many traditional stone houses, a folklore museum and some traditional restaurants. Above the village of Mesoropi, a footpath leads to a small one waterfall at a mountain lake.
Archaeological sites
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At the western end of the Pangeon, the archaeological site of Amphipolis and the statue of the lion of Amphipolis are particularly worth visiting
- 5 Amphipolis
(Αμφίπολη). 
The formerly important city was founded as an Athenian colony in 438/437 BC. BC because of its strategic location, near the fertile Strymon Valley and the Pangeo gold mines. The numerous finds from the excavations are in the Archaeological Museum of Amfipolis and the Archaeological Museum of Kavala. As in most of the archaeological sites, former temples were built over with churches, so that you can mainly see the foundation walls of basilicas on the excavation field. In the immediate vicinity there are still several ruins of towers from the Byzantine era.
- 6 Amphipolis Lion (Λέων Αμφιπόλεως).Grave monument from the 4th century BC It was built near the ancient city of Amphipolis in honor of the Admiral Laomedon, who came from the island of Lesbos. The lion's body is around four meters high; together with the pedestal, it measures over eight meters.
- 7 Eion (Χρυσόπολη Θράκης, Chrysopolis).was a Byzantine port city that developed on the delta of the Strymonas River after the 10th century and became an important port. A true Byzantine city, Chrysopolis was protected by a fortress, some remains of which are still preserved. Chrysoupolis is taken over by the Ottomans around 1380 without losing its importance as a trading center on the way from Thessaloniki to Constantinople. In the 16th century the settlement was abandoned.
- 8 Orfani castle ruins. Turkish fortress from the 18th century. to control to protect the delta.
- 9 Karyani castle ruins. Some scattered remains of a Byzantine fortress (11th century) on a low hill in the middle of vineyards. It seems that the place has never hosted a settlement. It was probably just a haven for the population.
activities
- hike. There are some beautiful hiking trails, both for walking and for challenging hikes. Some of the highest and most important peaks are Eye (1956 m), Dikorfo or Trikorfo (1940 m), Shepherd (1858 m) and Egg (1835 m). Of these, Mati Summit, although the tallest, is of no interest to mountaineers as the road leads to its highest point, where television and telecommunications equipment is located. The Greek Mountaineering Association of Kavala (EOS Kavalas) organizes hikes every two weeks. The very good website of the association is unfortunately only in Greek, so that you can only read it with the help of a translation program. Inquiries via email can also be made in English or German. This page has good descriptions of the best Hiking trails. Although the routes are described as precisely as possible, it is a good idea for those looking to climb for the first time to contact the Mountaineering Associations of Kavala for more information and advice on where to stay.
- beaches. The stands from are very popular 1 Nea Peramos The village has a very narrow, long sandy beach right on the promenade. On the peninsula on which the Peramos Castle is located, there are a few smaller bays, some of which have no beach bars and thus allow a quiet bathing stay. They can only be reached via dirt roads. Vrasidas is the most famous bay, but with a beach bar. Younger people in particular prefer the beaches of Amolofos, 4km west of Peramos. Parking, sun loungers, umbrellas, loungers, beach showers and loud music are free if you order a drink at the bar. The crystal clear, shallow water and fine sand offer a relaxed holiday atmosphere for those who love more action than peace. Quite busy in the season. If you drive from Nea Peramos along the expressway towards Thessaloniki you come to other very popular beaches in particularly beautiful surroundings, with crystal clear water and beach bars. These beaches are very crowded on Sundays in high season. Those who prefer it quieter should go there during the week. The most well-known are: 2 Oasis Beach Bar, 3 Cuba Beach Bar, 4 Almyra Beach Bar, 5 Sarakina. Further west, approx. 2 km after the entrance to 10 Loutra Eleftheron (hot springs) is the only one 6 Nudist beach. The many km long, touristically very well developed sandy beach of extends even further to the west Orfriniou.
- ski: In winter the Pangeo often has enough snow for skiing. Unfortunately it is due to the relative proximity to the Bulgarian ski center Bansko and the somewhat difficult approach, the number of visitors to the ski hut on the summit has decreased so much in winter that it is usually closed.
kitchen
- 1 Peukórama (Πευκόραμα).facebook url used
located on the mountain above Elefteropolis with a wonderful view of the Philippi plain. - 2 Pangeo Forest Village (Δασικό Χωριό Παγγαίου). Log cabins high on the Pangeon with a fantastic view. Because of the altitude, it is always cooler here than in the valley and so you can sit here in summer while you sweat in the valley. In winter, romantic with a fireplace and a snowy landscape. Good for families with children who have plenty of space to play safely there.
- 3 Dio Wrises (Δυο Βρύσες).facebook url usedsimple restaurant under high plane trees. Very nice place in summer.
- 4 Mpostáni (Μποστάνι).facebook url usedLocated in Mousteni a little above the village in a park. Particularly popular with families on weekends, because in addition to good food, the children can play safely in the park.
- 5 Kastaniés (Καστανιές).facebook url usedwell-known and popular restaurant in Mesoropi.
- 6 Palairon (ΠΑΛΑΙΡΟΝ). in Paleohori, popular because of the fantastic view.
accommodation
Most visitors prefer accommodation by the sea Nea Peramos, Nea Iraklitsa, Palio or Kavala in front. In the mountain villages, however, it is much cooler than at the sea. If you don't like the summer heat, but would still like to take a vacation on the coast, the mountain villages, e.g. Paleohori, the ideal place to stay. It is a 20-minute drive to the sea by car. But the nights are cool, so you don't have to fear the summer heat. However, the mountain huts are something special:
- 1 Pangeo Forest Village (Δασικό Χωριό Παγγαίου). Log cabins high on the Pangeon with a fantastic view.
nightlife
You shouldn't expect much nightlife in the villages, except for restaurants and kafeneios. Elefteropolis offers a bit of nightlife, but it is better to go to Kavala or, in high season, to the beach of Orfrinio.
shop
- Elefteropolis is suitable for a stroll with window shopping, as it has a few shops as a supply center for the surrounding villages.
- The large monasteries all also have a sales room in which, in addition to religious articles, good herbal medicine, herbal ointments, teas, soaps and other herbal articles, honey and cheese from our own production are offered. Anyone who is familiar with natural remedies and natural cosmetics will always find what they are looking for.
- Wine from the Pangeo region is a protected designation and it is definitely worth trying these high quality wines.
security
- Crime is almost non-existent. You can move around the villages both during the day and at night without fear. Only feral dogs can sometimes become uncomfortable or shepherd dogs guarding their herds. Caution should always be exercised when encounters with flocks of sheep / goats, especially if the shepherd is not present.
- When hiking in the mostly lonely mountain landscape, you should bring normal hiking equipment such as clothing, shoes, etc., as it can get quite cool in the mountains, even if you sweat on the beach at the same time.
- Snakes: there is a poisonous snake that lives mainly in the mountains, often on stony terrain or in holes in walls, between rocks and the like (horned viper / horned viper). It is very poisonous. You should therefore pay attention to good shoes and clothing if you want to go off-road and generally be careful with walls in abandoned houses and properties.
climate
The climate is like below Kavala described, but always a few degrees cooler due to the altitude and there are more thunderstorms in summer than on the coast.
literature
Other goals
- Kavala: probably the most beautiful city in Greece
- drama: Provincial town, good starting point for tours in the Rhodope Mountains
- Rhodope Mountains: great wild and lonely mountain landscape between Greece and Bulgaria
- Nestos: unique natural landscape
- Philippi: one of the most important archaeological sites in Northern Greece
