What makes Greece unique is the diversity of its terrain that is not limited to beaches and mountaintops and also includes lakes – even though there aren’t as many or as big as the ones in Europe. Greece is home to lakes that are both beautiful and important ecosystems, and that usually are only mildly developed and offer opportunities for traditional activities. Early autumn is the perfect time to get to know them. Here, we recommend 4 villages on or near lake banks that are worth including in your travel itineraries.
Doirani, Lake Doirani
Doirani, the lake at the borders between Greece and North Macedonia is a significant wetland. The village Doirani, the only Greek village on the lake’s banks, is an ideal destination (as is the Greek part of the lake in general) for those who are not looking for luxury accommodation and alternative activities, but an escape from city life and contact with nature.
We must admit that the village does not present any particular architectural interest. You’ll come here for the amazing calm of the lake, and to walk around its banks which is one of the most beautiful routes in Greece. At the Natural History Museum, you can learn about the wetland where 36 bird species have been recorded, including endangered species like the Dalmatian pelican and the pygmy cormorant.
In addition, 18 fish species live in the lake like the Eurasian carp, rutilus, and eels. The carp, in particular, is the local culinary specialty, caught by the few remaining fishermen on their plaves, the keelless boats, using fishing rods, and preserving the same techniques that have been around since antiquity.
The village’s trademark is the old railway station, in French architectural style, built in 1896. Another important monument is located on a hill at the back of the village. It is the World War I monument, as well as the British and Greek cemetery that was built here after the significant World War I battle.
We recommend you walk by the lake. If you’re lucky, you’ll see Dalmatian pelicans flying in formation over the water. These birds, with a wingspan of over 3 metres, are a special sight that’s worth taking a picture of. At the northern part of the lake, about 4km away from the banks, near the village Mouries, there’s a wonderful forest that stretches 60 hectares with century old oak trees. It’s a truly wonderful ecosystem, very important for the local fauna.
The island, Lake Pamvotida
The island of the Lake of Ioannina or Pamvotida lake, is a nameless island and settlement. It’s also one of the two inhabited lake islands in Greece. There are boats to/from the island from/to Ioannina every 30 minutes. You’ll come here to enjoy a place that preserves its identity while being part of the town of modern Ioannina.
The first remarkable part of the trip is the actual boat trip. You’ll have a great view of the town’s castle, as well as of the lake over which birds fly and on whose waters you’ll see rowers training.
The settlement has a population of around 100 and is known for its traditional colour with the stone houses and the cobbled alleys. There’s an important monastic area on the island – the third largest in Greece, after Mount Athos and Meteora – with noteworthy Byzantine and post-Byzantine monasteries like that of Profitis Ilias, of Eleousa and of Agios Nikolaos ton Filanthropinon, with interesting frescoes depicting people outside of Orthodoxy, like ancient philosophers.
The Agios Panteleimonas monastery is also interesting, where the Ali Pasha Museum is housed, since it is where Ali Pasha took refuge before the Ottoman’s killed him in 1822. The museum has historical documents, weapons of the time, the original costume of Kira Vasiliki, and Ali Pasha’s personal effects on display. We also recommend coming here early so that you can walk across the island and take in its beauty in its entirety, and get an appetite that you’ll satisfy eating eels, frog feet, and langoustines at one of the island’s taverns.
Agios Germanos, Prespa
Agios Germanos is not a waterfront village, it’s a few kilometres from the banks of the Prespa lakes, but it is one of the most beautiful villages in Greece with well-kept houses and great accommodation options, many of which have a great view of the lake. The village namesake church, built in the 10th century, as well as the restored watermill, at the end of the stone alley that goes next to the church are musts.
Of course, the village is ideal for culinary experiences with good restaurants and taverns serving great meat, fish from the lake, as well as signature local products like the Prespa beans. Based in Agios Germanos, you can go on several trips, like to the island of Agios Achilios in Mikri Prespa lake that is accessed on a 650m long footbridge. Agios Achilios is the other inhabited lake island in Greece. Another very interesting excursion is that to Mikrolimni, with the cormorant colony on Vidronisi island of Mikri Prespa.
You must not leave the Prespa lakes without visiting the hundred year old hermitages with the impressive rock paintings near the village Psarades, on the banks of Megali Prespa lake. You’ll get there by boat, with the boatmen serving as tour guides. The most impressive hermitage is that of Agia Eleousa, built in the 15th century. It’s basically a small church built inside a rock with the humidity preserving the frescoes on the wall in a very good condition.
Fidakia, Kremasta lake
Lake Kremasta is the largest artificial lake in Greece and, due to its hydroelectric facilities, was the place where a significant amount of electric energy was produced, especially in the past. It is not developed, however there are gorgeous villages around it that have managed to stay out of the spotlight. One of them is Fidakia, that is located a few kilometres from the lake. It’s built on a slope of mount Helidona, at 920km altitude.
The village’s buildings are almost exclusively built with stone, featuring well-kept houses and cobbled alleys with blooming gardens showing the love of the locals for their village. There’s a great tavern, Oihalia, in Fidakia, as well as a nice guesthouse, while there’s a trail that’s perfect for hiking lovers that leads, on a lovely route, to the location Tsagaralona, a spot with amazing view of the lake and the Kremasta bridge.
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