Explore majestic nature with the wildness of high mountains and hidden trails, with arched bridges spanning fast-flowing rivers, with stone-banked gorges among plane trees, and with lofty waterfalls to spill into cold, clear pools. Add to this authentic traditional food and an amazing hotel-destination: Anthochori is a place you will want to keep returning to throughout the year.
To reach the village from Athens or the south , head for Karditsa and continue on towards Mouzaki. Passing the narrow Pamisos river crossing, follow the road upwards towards the village of Kriopigi (former name Zeretsi) and after 2 km you will reach Anthochori, previously known as Floretsi.
Anthochori is a picturesque, charming, mountain village that the Anthochoritis river crosses through, and it has many well-kept stone houses. The interesting church of Agios Georgios, built in 1623 and renovated in 1717, is in the village square, and a bit further away the church of Agia Paraskevi that was built in 1887.
A quiet, peaceful village that is close to many popular tourist sites in the area, Anthochori is just a 15-minute drive from Lake Plastira, an hour-drive from Elati and Pertouli, and only 40 km from Karditsa.
The watermill, the waterfall and the gorge of Anthochori
The village landmarks, and the reason that many of the visitors come here, are the expertly renovated watermill, the waterfall and the gorge, all of them connected to the Anthochoritis river.
Following the path by the river, you will find the old watermill on the outskirts of the village, on the road towards Lake Plastira. Made of stone, with a tiled roof, expertly renovated, it stands in a stone-paved clearing among lush vegetation. There are benches to rest on and to listen to the sound of bubbling water and the rustle of the leaves. If you are lucky, the watermill will be working and you can buy corn or whole wheat flour.
The Anthochori gorge and the historic B20 path leading to the impressive waterfall start here, the route having been restored by the Hellenic Mountaineering Association of Karditsa. Walking beneath plane trees there is a dirt road with signs to the waterfalls. On the left the road leads to the scenic church of Gennisi tis Theotokou and a little bridge. The wide dirt road turns into a path again and in less than half an hour you will reach the waterfalls.
At Kamara bridge
A hike to remember is the one that leads to Kamara; a proud, arched, stone bridge on the Koromilia creek. Excellently restored, the bridge stands tall among rocky cliffs surrounded by vegetation, with the imposing waterfall in the background creating amazing views no matter where you look from. Its beauty is not just visual but also auditory as the waterfall constantly shouts out its presence. From Kamara you can continue on the path until “Enia Vrises” (nine taps) and this is where the Association of Anthochori Residents organise a mountain festival every year with music and dance groups and local food and wine.
If you have a 4×4 vehicle, to get to Kamara you can drive on the road that goes around the Agrafa peak, travelling through a dense fir forest. There is also road access to the “Enia Vrises” area. From the Kamara bridge you can walk back to the village, or if you’ve driven here you can visit the village of Kerasia on Lake Plastira. Finally, if you are looking for something a little more adventurous you can add the village of Argithea to your itinerary and reach the unfinished dam of the Acheloos river at Sikia on the borders of the prefectures of Karditsa and Arta, or drive to the beautiful artificial Lake Stefaniada that lies between the mountains.
If you decide to travel in winter, especially if it has snowed or rained, get information on the state of the roads, and if you want to go hiking make sure you do it with someone familiar with the area.
Food, accommodation
Near the square there is a nice tavern “Floresi” (tel. 0030 24450 41992) owned by Mrs Eleni Bairami with traditional cuisine and local ingredients. It has a large hall with a fireplace and a nice garden for when the weather is clement enough to sit outside. The menu includes, among other things, pork with orange, lamb chops, pork and vegetable casserole, galotiri cheese, and great sourdough bread.
A village within the village, the wonderful hotel “Montanema Handmade Village” (tel. 0030 24450 45220) is surrounded by forest and is a holiday destination in its own right throughout the year. Stone apartments and villas are arranged around an outdoor pool like a little hamlet, and they are decorated with furniture that includes antique items from the owners’ personal collection.
The restaurant “Fournia” serves traditional cuisine and free-range meat, while at “Idos” cellar wine tasting nights are organised where wines from Greek vineyards are paired with Greek delicacies.
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