Few things compare to the thrill of a new car. When we were handed the keys to our new Peugeot 308, a short excursion for confirmation of its driving potential was a must.
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Before stepping inside to drive off, we were completely taken by the car’s impressive exterior appearance. Our attention initially focused on the new and revised Peugeot brand crest, concentrating on the lion’s head, with a rich mane, set in a triangular shield-like frame. The LED-Technology front headlights as well as the daytime running lights at the front bumper, resembling lion’s teeth, create an impressive and dynamic image.
We got into the car and took off, but not before admiring the car’s impressive interior. The fine reputation Peugeot has established over the years for its cabins was one reason why we chose the Peugeot 308. Our high expectations were actually exceeded by the reality we had stepped into. The cabin offers a premium-car feel that goes well beyond ordinary-car limits. The seats are comfortable and the modern design avoids any unnecessary flamboyance. Also, the choice of materials inside is of the highest quality. It felt like I was sitting in the living room of a modern home.
We took off for our first drive in the Peugeot 308 headed for Lake Marathon, north of Athens. The drive to this location certainly poses some challenges, but we treated them as a perfect test to confirm the capabilities of our new car. Its performance was excellent, highly responsive to all driving needs. As for the technological installations, we must highlight that the central 10-inch touch screen blends perfectly into the dashboard design. All the buttons, controlling features such as the air conditioning system, hazard warning light and volume level, are ideally positioned to offer comfortable, safe driving.
We reached the Marathon dam, whose construction was completed in 1929 and led to the creation of Lake Marathon. The lake was Athens’ main reservoir for water supply to the city between 1931 and 1959.
In 1959, man-made Lake Marathon was linked to Lake Yliki, a natural lake. Nowadays, most of Athens’ water supply needs are covered by Lake Mornos, another artificial lake.
The setting at Lake Marathon is impressive. It was difficult to believe we were just an hour away from the centre of Athens. As big as this lake may seem, it would only cover Athens’ water supply needs for just a few days, given the extent of the city’s growth.
A trafficlight directs single-lane traffic at the narrow lakeside road. We stopped somewhere nearby for a coffee while enjoying the impressive view. However, the best was yet to come.
An extensive network of trails offering walks through nature surround the lake. One of these trails leads to the base of the dam, where a temple – a replica of an ancient Greek temple – stands. The temple was built at the time of the dam’s construction and was inspired by Delphi’s Athenian Treasury, a Doric-style temple constructed by the Athenians as an offering to the gods following their major victory in the Battle of Marathon. The area’s modern and ancient history is combined as a result of the initiative taken by the builders and engineers who developed the dam and artificial lake.
Our daytrip ended at a very good taverna in Kalentzi. From there, we returned to Athens and could not wait for the next opportunity to head out for a longer drive with our Peugeot 308.
Lake Vouliagmeni (Corinth)
When this opportunity did arise, we drove out slightly beyond the wider Athens area to lesser-known Lake Vouliagmeni, also referred to as Lake Heraion, in the Corinth region, west of the capital, taking the familiar Athens-Loutraki route. We encountered some heavy traffic in seaside Loutraki, close to Corinth, when we stopped for supplies. Parking the car could have been slightly tricky here if it weren’t for the Enhanced Park Assist, a four-camera, 360-degree installation offering the driver a bird’s eye view to help make the most of the tightest of spaces.
From Loutraki, we took a comfortable 20-minute drive to Lake Heraion, which, in fact, is not a lake but a lagoon that is connected with Gulf of Corinth by an extremely narrow landform that is no more than 10 metres wide. We decided to begin the visit with a look at the area’s archaeological site, Heraion of Perachora, where excavation work has led to a number of interesting discoveries, including a large cistern and dining rooms that served worshippers visiting the location’s Sanctuary of Hera. If you happen to visit the archaeological site when the weather is good, make sure to have a bathing suit. The spot is great for swimming.
The archaeological site features a terrific beach, largely unknown, directly in front. At this time of year, we chose not to take a dip, but, instead, took a walk along a dirt track that actually led us to the highlight of the day, the Heraion lighthouse, at the tip of the peninsula. You may have seen this lighthouse on social media. It is one of the most impressive lighthouses in Greece, making it the subject of countless photographs.
We, too, succumbed to its charm and took photographs of our own, before eventually deciding to extend the duration of our visit to the Corinth area. We spent the night in nearby Loutraki and planned to visit one more lake the following day.
Doxa Lake, at the heart of ‘Corinthian Switzerland’
Anybody who enjoys driving will love the route leading to Lake Doxa. It has many bends, requiring regular changes of speed. However, the Peugeot 308 gearbox and active lane keeping assist make it all easier. With every turn of the wheel, the landscape before us altered. The drive to Lake Doxa, a man-made, sub-alpine lake at 900 metres that is occasionally referred to as a little “Corinthian Switzerland”, took a little longer than we expected as we made numerous stops to marvel at the spectacular setting.
We finally reached Lake Doxa via an easy-to-cross dirt road that begins at the edge of the village Goura. This man-made lake was created relatively recently, in the late 1990s, following the creation of a dam at the Doxa stream, which provided the name for the new lake.
The forest of Corinth’s slopes is reflected on the surface of the lake, creating a unique, multi-coloured illusionary image. This area, too, hosts an interesting structure that you may not have been aware of but seen on Instagram. Agios Fanarios, a small church, is connected to the mainland via a narrow strip of land. After walking around the lake we headed to a local taverna at Feneos. After a fine meal, we drove back to Athens, a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour drive thanks to our new Peugeot 308.
