Winter at its best at a stone’s throw form Athens
Living or staying in Athens and dreaming of an escape to nature in the heart of the winter? Then take a break in the mountain area of Korinthos! Take the very comfortable motorway connecting Athens to Patras and in a matter of two hours you’ll see your dream come true!


Starting here...

Stay in a place where you will be able to easily move around. We suggest Stympalia, Trikala, or the beautiful little town of Xylokastro, on the coast of Korinthos. The mountainous landscape, dotted with picturesque villages and beautified by two lakes, extends over the fir-clad slopes of Mt Ziria, the second biggest of Peloponnese to Taygetos. You’ll regret leaving the area without seeing and doing what we are hereby suggesting:


Stymphalia
This town has been built in the Killini (Cyllene at Ziria) mountain region and was renowned in mythology. According to the legend, Hercules slew the Stymphalian fowls, the man-eating birds with the bronze wings that lived in the swamps, on the lake’s banks of the same name. It is located 61 km W of the city of Korinthos.

Points of interest

• Lake Stymphalia is situated at an altitude of 700 metres between four mountains: Ziria, Oligirto, Mavrovounio and Gavria. It is considered to be a rare wetland habitat and hosts more than 143 species of birds, some of which are rare. It is worth stopping by at one of the bird observatories along the lakeside road.
• The ruins of the Ancient city of Stymphalos on the lake’s northern roadside where the remnants of the Ancient Agora’s public buildings, fortifications and temples have been discovered that bear testament to the past’s glory. The city which has been excavated was founded in approximately 350 B.C. on the site of a town with inter-dispersed ruins dating to the early and late Bronze Age period. The partial destruction of Stymphalos appears to be due to a Roman military attack after 146 B.C.
• The Environmental Museum of Stymphalia
• The impressive Zaraka Cistercian Monastery ruins, a little outside the village, appear to be the first noteworthy evidence for the monastery, which date back to 1236. Its church (a three-aisled basilica roofed with groin vaults) has been excavated over three periods (1928, 1962, 1993-1997), while the columns are reminiscent of 13th century Gothic churches.
• The villages Kaliani (5 km E), Lafka (10 km SW) where a prominent museum operates with old tools, and Kastania (14 km W) are set in a magnificent landscape with chestnut, fir and plane trees. Take in the beauty of the area by mountaineering as some spots offer a breathtaking view to the lake.