Just 4 km from North Macedonia, a small village in Greece has long been associated with an important moment in Balkan history, namely the victory of the Greek army over the Bulgarian troops in May 1918. It was the most decisive victory on the Macedonian Front in WWI, a battle that played an important role in the treatment of Greece by the Entente powers (Britain, France, and Russia).
Northwest of the prefecture of Kilkis, on the slopes of Mount Paiko, stands the village of Skra, first mentioned in historical texts under the name of Loumnitsa in 1452, just one year before the fall of Constantinople. The village took its name from the nearby peak of Skra-di-Legen, meaning “Rock Cradle”.
Visitors in search of nature will be enchanted by the dreamlike landscape and the beautiful waterfalls of Skra, as well as the crystal blue lake known as “Greece’s Blue Lagoon”. For history buffs, the Museum of the First World War and Battle of Skra which opened in the area in May 2002 is dedicated to this catalytic moment in early 20th century Greek history.
A battle of great importance
In the last year of WWI, the Greek army fought for the first time alongside the French army against the troops of Bulgaria. The Bulgarians fighting alongside the central forces against the Entente Powers had been camped in Skra since 1915 building fortifications, but the French general Guillaumat drew up a plan for a general offensive to be carried out jointly by the Greek and French forces. In May 1918, the three Greek divisions broke through the defences of the Bulgarian army, occupying all the key points of the area, despite the fact that they were significantly inferior in weapons and manpower.
The newspapers of the time spoke of the “Triumph of the Greek spear”, with the heads of the Greek army receiving laudatory titles and praise from the French and British governments for their decisive contribution to the outcome of the Macedonian Front. The “glorious victory of the Greek forces”, as the international press called it, made the area famous bringing the interest of tourists to this small Macedonian village.
The blue lagoon
For nature lovers, Skra will always be the home of Greece’s blue lagoon, an enchanting emerald oasis hidden in nature’s bosom.
Just 64 km from the city of Kilkis and about 90 km from Thessaloniki, the beautiful waterfalls of Skra are a favourite destination for the residents of both who often take day trips to this beautiful and historic place of northern Greece. To get there follow the signs from Kilkis to the villages of Koupa and Skra. On your way you will come across a junction leading to the village of Archangelos to the left and to the village of Skra on the right. Before entering the settlement, turn left on the road leading to the waterfalls. Cars cannot access the lake directly, but there is an easy path shrouded with lush chestnut and plane trees that you can follow.
The route to the waterfalls and the lake has been named Kotza Ntere or Great Stream and follows 300 stone steps that lead to a clearing. Make a stop here as there is a picnic area with tables and benches.
Back on the route, pass over a wooden bridge, before hearing the sound of the waterfall cascading into the emerald waters of the lake from 6 metres high. The reputation of this exotic landscape amidst dense forest is so great that in summer visitors arrive here in large numbers just to enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters, in one of the most photogenic spots in Macedonia. It is, however, good to remember that both the waterfalls and the lake are freezing cold even in summer. If you do pluck up the courage to enter the water, explore the rock shelters behind the falls, while many visitors climb the waterfalls for a dramatic plunge from above.
In short, the experience is fantastic and can be topped off with a delicious meal at one of the quaint little taverns on the paved square of Skra under the dense shade of an old plane tree. If you want to stay in the village there are a few rooms to let, or alternatively you can stay in Kilkis which is 59 km away. However, many travellers choose to stay in the town of Gevgelija in North Macedonia, just half an hour from Skra, as there one can find many exceptional value-for-money accommodation options that cost as little as 50 euros for two people for two nights.
WWI Museum
At the entrance to the settlement there is a characteristic sign that reads “Welcome to heroic Skra” and in the village square you will find the small museum of the First World War which opened in 2002.
The specially designed area exhibits important relics from the emblematic battle of the Macedonian Front, photographs, as well as historical archives that list the entire chronicle of the victorious battle that took place on May 17, 1918.
The aim of the exhibition is to honour the memory of those who fought and were sacrificed in one of the most decisive battles fought in the last year of the war in the Balkans.
Elsewhere in the village there is also a Memorial to the Fallen and a bust of Major Vasilis Papagiannis, the highest-ranking Greek officer who fell on the battlefield. Just outside the village, around Skra-di-Legen, there are still ruined machine guns and other mementoes from the battle.
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