Kastori and Georgitsi of Laconia, Two villages for nature lovers

Neighboring villages built to the NE. slopes of Taygetus, with spring water and rich vegetation, ideal for nature lovers and hikers.

The scenery is completed by towering plane trees that hide the sky, routes through canyons, paths next to rivers and waterfalls, ponds, wooden bridges, and recreational areas with water fountains.

Leisure area in Kastori

All hiking routes in the area have been recorded and marked by Association of Friends of Taygetos «OR Lucina», www.lousina.gr.

Beaver or Castorio : kefalochori in B. Taygetus, 17 km ΒΔ. Sparta (20’), headquarters of D.E. Pellanas of the Municipality of Sparta. It is known for Beaver Canyon, for the Bridge of the Castor river, and for them Springs of Saint Mama.

Beaver

Georgitsi, the "Taygetus balcony» : small traditional village, amphitheatrically built with a nice view. It belongs to Patent. Pellanas of the Municipality of Sparta, as well as Kastori, and is 29 km from Sparta and 225 km from Athens.

Georgitsi

BEAVER & GEORGITSI, WHAT TO SEE- WHAT TO DO

Beaver Canyon, to B. of Kastori.

Beautiful route through the gorge, parallel to its flow river Beaver. The path starts from Beaver Bridge and reaches the Marble bridge (easy, 1,7 Km, about 40').

Marble bridge, NE. of Kastori, on the Kastori-Koniditsa road. Double-arched bridge that is a point of reference for many hiking routes in the area, such as : Marble bridge – Saint Lucas (ascetic) – District of Kastori – lived and worshiped the Saint Mama Kastoriou (6,5-7 km, 3,5 hours, easy).

Mylon Gorge, between Georgitsi – Beaver, in D.. of the village of Alevrou.

Mylon Gorge

Easy hiking route with a marked path starting from square St. Athanasius Georgitsiou walks past them old Georgitsiou Mills and ends at Beaver (9,6 km, 3,5 – 4 hours). Vice versa Marble bridge – Beaver – Mylon Gorge – Georgitsi (because the path is uphill start from Georgitsi towards Kastori, altitude difference 470 m. from 400 m. – 870m.

Hiking trail from Gorgitsi to Mylon Gorge

The best time to hike the canyons is Spring Summer, as well as from November–April remain closed for security reasons (the river swells from the rains and floods the path). More information about the route : www.lousina.gr.

Mylon Gorge

Mylon Gorge - Lata - Agios Nikolaos hiking trail

Mesosporitissa : his former hermitage Ag. Theoklitou (local Saint born in Kastori) with a small chapel inside the rock dedicated to Virgin Mary. Access by uphill path and steps (10’ walk from Kastori).

Mesosporitissa

Agios Mama springs – Source of Vaya Kastoriou : recreational area within the village with a drinking water fountain and picnic tables under century-old plane trees (from 1870).
Old Watermill, ruins of old Waterworks of Kastori : for hiking just outside the village, near the fish farm.
Ascetic Saint Luke in Kastori : small church in a cave, close to the position Tank.
Kastanodasos Georgitsiou : easy hiking trail on passable dirt road from "Mythosenes" to Above Georgitsi.
Park "Karvounorema» : landscaped recreation area, lush, water, trees, perfect for a picnic.
Archaeological Site of Pellana, on the road from Sparta to Kastori, 1 Km Β. of the village of Pellana (about 6 km from Kastori). You will see a Mycenaean cemetery with carved tombs, in "Caves", and remains of the wall of the Acropolis of Pellana, in "Paleokastro" location (can be visited after consultation with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia in Sparta, tel. : 27310 23315).

BEAVER & GEORGITSI, FESTIVITIES – EVENTS

Festival of Boukouvala in Kastori, end of November, in the recreation area on Springs of Saint Mama.

The celebration associated with the picking of olives and oil includes dancing, song, plenty of tsipouro, appetizers, exhibition of local products and photography (organization Association of Friends of Taygetos «OR Lucina», www.lousina.gr).

Bukouvala : bread baked on coals smeared with the oil of the new harvest.

Tsipouro Festival in the Georgitsi, in the Karvounorema Park, the last Saturday of October.

Traditional feast with live music, appetizers and plenty of tsipouro flowing from a cauldron (organization Cultural Associations Georgitsiou, https://www.georgitsi.gr).

Running Races «Kastorios Mountain Half Marathon of Taygetou» : early December, length 22,4 km, 4 km and 1 km (childish).

KASTORI – WHAT TO BUY

G–Fish, Gerontides, fish farm which uses its spring waters Saint Mama Taygetos for fish farming. Produces smoked trout, salmon, sturgeon, salmon caviar, pasta with smoked salmon etc, https://g-fish.gr, tel. : 27310 26164, 6973434578. Visitable with guided tour–tasting (1 time with ticket), where you can try up to 10 products with wine or tsipouro. Open daily, from early afternoon, and upon consultation (for SCs). Shopping inside the fish farm and at the Sparta store, Gortsologu 111.

Bread on wood from the traditional bakery of Kastori, Maniatis, barley nuts, moustache, buns and honey macaroons (all year). Open daily except Sunday, tel. : 27310 57500. A second bakery for bread also operates in Kastori, sweets etc..

ACCOMMODATION – FOOD IN KASTORI & GEORGITSI

Hostel in Kastori : at the entrance of Kastori, next to Agios Mama Springs – Vaya Spring, near the recreation area. features 6 rooms, double or triple, information : Mrs. Muntidi, tel.: 6932 388997, open all year round.

Kastori - Guesthouse

Georgitsi Guesthouse "Mythoxenia" : pool , restaurant, Cafe, nice view, https://www.mythoxenia.com, tel. : 27310 61575, 6974 803315, open all year round. Georgitsiou Guesthouse «Mythosenes», cafe food.

Food at Georgitsi : restaurant - cafe «Mythosenes», tavern «plane tree», in Agios Athanasios square, with small tables under the plane tree, tavern «The Klimataria», in upper square Georgitsiou, close to Submissive, with terrace and panoramic view (open after Easter and for the summer months, tel. : 6978 680104).

Local food : bouzopula (roast pork), rooster from Barduni (braised in the pot), Kayana with eggs, convergent or sausage.

GEORGITSI – SIGHTSEEING

Old school, the large stone building with the clock and the excellent C-shaped architecture.
Pano Georgitsiou square with her church Visitation
Shrine of Airmen, next to Ypapanti with an incredible view.

The Monument to Hero Airmen was made to honor the airmen from the Georgitsi who fell for the country. Each year, on the feast of the Brigadier Generals (8/11), an honorary event is held with the laying of wreaths.

Airplane F104, gift of the Air Force to commemorate the downing of the planes, next to Agia Mavra and "Mythosenes».
Churches St. Demetrios (Byzantine), above Ypapanti, Assumption of Mary, in altitude 1.110 m. (from the oldest ones) and Agios Georgios Georgitsiou in a nice location.

BEAVER & GEORGITSI – HIKING ROUTES

Taygetus: 2.407 m., top Prophet Elias (with a small church celebrating 20/7 and gathers a lot of people), pyramid shaped. It is the highest mountain range of the Peloponnese, length 115 km, which starts from the plateau of Megalopolis (North Taygetos) and ends at Cape Tainaro (South Taygetos).
North Taygetos : 852 m., higher Xerovouna peak.

You will arrive from Beaver starting from Sources of St Mum (470 m.) – Lucina (1.141 m.) – Xerovouni (until the 1.426 m.). Height difference 956 m. (470 m. – 1.426 m.), 8 km, 4 hours.

Indicative hiking routes in the area :

Mylon Gorge – Lata – Saint Nicholas, 8,5 km, 4 hours, altitude difference 506 m. (900 m. – 1.406 m.).
Georgitsi – Neochori, 5,2 km, 2,5 hours, altitude difference 609m. (870m. – 1.479 m.).
Georgitsi – Withdrawal, 6,3 km, 2 h 15 ', altitude difference 400 m. from 870 m. – 1.270 m.

Detailed information at www.lousina.gr.