Parnon. The mountain range is one of the most important habitats not only in the Peloponnese but in the entire territory, as it is full of firs (Kefalonian fir), pines (black pine), oaks, plane trees, and cedars that we find exclusively here. It stretches over 100 kilometers between Arcadia and Laconia, with its highest peak, Megali Tourla (Kronio), reaching 1,934 meters. On its back, the visitor will meet dozens of picturesque villages waiting to welcome them, as well as a multitude of hiking trails. It also has two major mountaineering routes: the European Path E4 and the National Path O33, both of which are based on the road network.
Starting point the mountain village of Polydroso
A base for your explorations in the green Parnonas, either on foot or by car, can be Polydroso of Laconia (Tsintzina as they were called in the past), a mountain village built at an altitude of 1,000 meters on the mountainside. The distance that separates it from Athens is about 225 kilometers, which can be covered by road in just under three hours. Taking the national road Athens – Corinth and then Corinth – Tripoli, follow the signs to Sparta.
However, you will not enter Sparta; 14 km outside the city, you will find signs directing you to turn left towards Sellasia (2 km). Covering another 27 kilometers of provincial road, it is located in Polydroso, with its paved square, where the dense foliage of plane trees casts its shade. From this village, there are many night excursions by jeep to one of the clearings of Parnonas.
Karyes: The village with the most famous Daughters of the world
After Polydroso, you can head north towards the municipality of Oinountos (where the historic monastery of Agioi Anargyroi is located at an altitude of 1,000 meters) and the community of Karyes, which is the entrance to Laconia. Karyes is a village with a long history, built in a verdant area of chestnut and walnut trees. It is said that the king of Sparta, Menelaus, gathered his army there before departing for Troy. In the same location, the sanctuary of Artemis Caryatid was erected in antiquity, while the well-carved Caryatids of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis of Athens were named after this place.
From a tourist point of view, Karyes has developed significantly in recent years, with several picturesque guesthouses and hotels, both inside and outside the settlement, that operate year-round and offer high-quality services, making visitors’ stays as pleasant as possible. From the village, you can also buy a wide variety of local traditional products, such as chestnuts, walnuts, organic oil, local wine, tea, olives, oregano, honey, traditional cheeses, village bread, rusks, local meats, and pasta. The place is an ideal base for activities and getaways in Parnonas. Lovers of nature, mountaineering, and walking can explore the natural paths in the wider area and enjoy the countless natural beauties. Besides, Karyes has a modern, well-marked network of hiking and cycling routes, the Caryatides Trails, through the maintenance and promotion of the village’s old paths. The European path E4 passes through Karyes, starting from the Pyrenees Mountains, entering Greece north of Florina, and ending in Zakros, Crete.
The choices you have starting from Vamvakou, Niarchos’ place of origin
After Karyes, we meet Vamvakou at an altitude of 900 meters, which, in recent years, has received great publicity and is worth visiting. The village, place of origin of Stavros Niarchos, is “drowned” in fir trees, and its square with the church of Agios Charalambos constitutes a wonderful “balcony overlooking the mountain peaks of Parnonas. The routes you can take starting from Vamvakou are many. Cycling to the Refuge, Christasi, and Kato Vrisi, as well as hiking to Megali Tourla (the aforementioned highest peak of Parnonas) or Platis Potami from the village.
If you follow the yellow path from the square to the forest, you will reach the cave monastery of Agia Kyriaki, which no longer operates, through a route through the enchanting nature with the river on the side. At the same time, from Vamvakou you can take a road tour to the Mountaineering Refuge of Parnon, located at Arnomoscha.
If we head north, our next stop is Varvitsa, another mountainous village of the municipality of Sparta, built at an altitude of 1,060 meters, on the west side of Meterizi hill. Historically, the settlement is believed to have been founded in the 17th century and is best known as the birthplace of the famous thief of the pre-revolutionary period, Zacharias Barbitsiotis, who was active from 1776 until his assassination in 1804. The central church of the village is dedicated to Agios Dimitrios.
Parnonas: The villages will compensate you
The villages of Parnonas, whatever season you go, will compensate you, since the alternations of nature contribute greatly to this. But if we were to choose one season as the most ideal, we would say that this is spring. In the summer, on the other hand, all of them acquire more life, since they are visited by those who draw their origin from them and live in Athens or other big cities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Parnon is one of the most important mountain ranges in the Peloponnese, stretching over 100 kilometers between Arcadia and Laconia. Its highest peak, Megali Tourla (Kronio), reaches 1,934 meters. The mountain is home to diverse flora including Kefalonian firs, black pines, oaks, plane trees, and cedars found exclusively in this region.
Polydroso is located approximately 225 kilometers from Athens and can be reached in just under three hours by car. Take the national road Athens-Corinth, then Corinth-Tripoli, and follow signs to Sparta. About 14 km before Sparta, turn left towards Sellasia (2 km), then continue 27 kilometers on the provincial road to reach Polydroso.
Parnon offers two major mountaineering routes: the European Path E4 and the National Path O33, both based on the road network. The mountain also features dozens of hiking trails connecting picturesque villages, making it ideal for trekking and nature exploration.
Caryatids are the famous sculptured female figures on the Erechtheion temple of the Acropolis in Athens. They were named after Karyes village in Laconia, where a sanctuary of Artemis Caryatid existed in antiquity. The Karyatises were virgin priestesses who performed devotional dances during annual feasts honoring Artemis the Caryatid.
Karyes features several notable attractions including the Community Clock with panoramic views, the arched bridge of the river Diros, the church of Agios Andreas in the central square, and the perennial plane trees of Menelaos near the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A replica of the Caryatids of the Erechtheion dominates a high rock at the village entrance.
Karyes offers a wide variety of local traditional products including chestnuts, walnuts, organic oil, local wine, tea, olives, oregano, honey, traditional cheeses, village bread, rusks, local meats, and pasta. These authentic products reflect the region's agricultural heritage and culinary traditions.
Parnon is ideal for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Activities include hiking, mountaineering, cycling, jeep excursions to mountain clearings, and walking on well-marked natural paths. The mountain has a modern network of hiking and cycling routes suitable for various skill levels.
Both Polydroso and Karyes serve as excellent bases for exploring Parnon. Polydroso, built at 1,000 meters altitude, is a traditional mountain village with a shaded square. Karyes has developed significantly with several picturesque guesthouses and hotels operating year-round, offering high-quality services and making it an ideal base for activities in the wider Parnonas area.
