A village of incredible beauty!!Place where one of the most inhumane pages of the modern history was written. Welcome to Kalavryta where memory is combined with the beauty of the area and local hospitality all year round, either it is a short break or a longer stay. Kalavryta is a small town of the mountainous Achaia, 77km from Patras and 180 km from Athens. The famous and fully equipped Ski Center, the impressive Gorge of Vouraikos and the journey with Odontotos.
The Limnes Cave , the monasteries and the nearby little villages, expect you to explore them. The village offers not only tranquility but also relaxing moments, since there you will find cafes, bars, and restaurants in harmony with the traditional scenery, offering great local dishes. As for the accommodation, there are plenty of hotels with all the amenities available. The stone alleys invite you to enjoy your walks and amaze its beauty. Reaching the village, you will see the Railway Station, with a unique one hour drive, starting from Diakopto, the railway crosses the Vouraikos Gorge, through Zachlorou village, and ends up to Kalavryta. The word “Odontotos” comes from the teeth , the railway uses to help them climb steep and high hills. The train crosses 22km and climbs to an altitude of 750m.
During the journey, there is a stop to Megalo Spilaio. The route is through the Gorge of Vouraikos, the river which creates big and small waterfalls. To the location Katarraktes, the water rush under the bridge. Next stop, Dikastiria. The location took its name from a small round cave when stalactites form a picture reminding a court room, Getting to Kalavryta, the visitor is impressed by the gushing water, giving the name to the area. Alternatively, crossing Vouraikos on foot is a unique experience, the route is along the rail, and it is a part of the international path E4. In the village you can see the square with the plane tree of the Three Gerontes, where Petimezas, Zaimis and Fotilas conferred, as you can visit the Municipal Museum of the Holocaust of Kalavryta, housed in an old school.
In the playground , you can admire the statue of the Kalavrytian mother, dragging her dead husband in front of her children’s eyes. The museum provides 5 theme halls. On 13th December , the Germans gathered in the playground, all the inhabitants and separated males from females and the elderly, The men and teenagers over 13 were led to Kappi hill and got murdered, as the women and the elderly were kept inside , until the end of the executions. You can also visit the monastery of Agia Lavra, built in 961 AD. Inside the museum you can amaze the Banner of the Greek Revolution of 1821, which was launched here. In the garden you can also see plane tree of the Revolution 30metres high. Under this tree, on 18th March 1821, Germanos Archibishop of Patras, raised the standard of revolt and the greek revolution began. In 1943, under the same tree, the Nazi, executed the monks of the monastery.
If you visit Kalavryta in winter and you are a sports lover, a visit to the ski center will definitely reward you. Fully equipped, offering great rides that will raise your adrenaline, as you can enjoy every sport that excites you as skiing, snowboard, skibike, and if you are a beginner, there are trainers that will help you. The Ski Center is easily accessible by car.
From Athens : the distance is 191km , through the highway connecting Athens to Patras, to the 150thkm to Trapezas or Pountas, turn to Kalavryta and the ski center.
From Patras: 93km through Diakopto and 79km through Chalandritsa.
From Peloponnese: You can get via Tripolis(185km) , Levidi and Kleitoria. You can also choose the railway station to Diakopto and get to Kalavryta with Odontotos.
THE CAVES OF THE LAKES
The cave is at an altitude of 800m , near Kastria village , to the road Kalavryta- Kleitoria. It is a bank of an old subterranean river of 2100m length.The lakes formed inside the cave , have given the name and it is formed in 3 levels. According to findings, the cave was inhabited from Neolithic Age to Bronze Age. Only 500m can be visited.