Greece, Kastoria. What is worth seeing in Kastoria? Transport and movement
If you come to Kastoria, then you should appreciate the wonders located in this beautiful ancient Greek city, which has become widely famous thanks to them.
This area is capable of delighting and bewitching visitors. If you have been here at least once, you have already been imbued with the feeling that there is no other city so original, either in Greece or in the rest of the world.
in Kastoria, you should definitely take walks to two wonderful, beautiful places - all those who arrived in Greece, a state known for its myths and gods, strive to get there. Each of them is original and unique; after visiting them, tourists remain with vivid memories for a long time. Having visited the first, the soul gains the warmth of sunlight and seems to become closer to heaven, and having visited the second, you will have a chance to heal both mental and physical illnesses, getting rid of fatigue and worries.
Meteora
This is the territory of the cosmic forces. It is located at a distance of one hundred and twenty-five kilometers from Kastoria.
The first of the trips made by vacationers in Kastoria is a trip to Meteora, the territory of cosmic forces, where every visitor will have powerful impressions. When tourists arrive here, they see for themselves that the energy here is special, giving a surge of strength and renewal of spirit.
Unique local natural beauties crown the creations of man - here on the rocks, by some miracle, Christian monasteries are located. Those believers who previously lived and still live in this place have made the choice to renounce worldly concerns and devote themselves to serving the Lord. For this reason, Meteora is considered the second center of Orthodoxy in the state - after St. Athos, which is a closed monastic state. Today there are six monasteries in Meteora.
The name of the area “Meteora” means “floating in the air”, between heaven and earth. This name was given to the first local monastic community by the one who was credited with its founding - St. Athanasius of Meteora (XIV century).
Aridea – “Alps in Greece”
The second trip is more suitable for fans of therapeutic and recreational holidays. Aridea, which has the nickname of the “Greek Alps,” is a unique region in the state in which the tourist is surrounded by majestic mountains covered with rich forests, healing thermal springs - a SPA resort of natural origin, mysterious caves and natural beauty. An important nuance is also that you can relax in these places at any time of the year - that’s why crowds of tourists constantly come here.
Have you ever enjoyed autumn days in the mountains? The air is clean and transparent, it is intoxicating, and the powerful natural forces carried by the healing water in the springs give you energy and health. It’s not just that the healing effect of the local thermal springs was highly appreciated back in the Romanesque period.
During winter, the local hydrotherapy clinic attracts tourists who prefer to combine treatment with healing waters and skiing, which can be practiced in the center of Voras-Kaimaktsalan, which is located nearby.
Those who like to learn everything new that new holiday destinations can offer will be able to walk along picturesque mountain trails, visit caves with a unique atmosphere, wonderful lowland lakes, as well as cultural institutions - the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Paleontological Museum.
Lake Orestiada
Orestiada is a lake in the mountains, whose destiny was to become the heart of Kastoria. It was named in memory of the Hellenic leader Orestes of Argos, who was persecuted by the Dorians in the 11th-10th centuries BC. However, there is a legend that the son of Olympian Zeus, Castor, looked into this volcanic lake every morning. It is possible that because of this hero the city was named as it is known today. According to another opinion, the name of the city “Kastoria” is associated with the large population of beavers that lived in the waters of Lake Orestiada - after all, in ancient Greek “kastor” means “beaver”.
This lake is located at an altitude of 630 meters; in the west of its territory there is a long peninsula on which the city of Kastoria is located. The wealth of flora and fauna in Lake Orestiada makes a strong impression not only on tourists who come here to admire the natural beauty, but also on scientists - since a large number of species of fish can be seen here; the lake also attracts various representatives of birds - thanks to the abundant “fish delicacy” (bitters, herons, storks, night herons, swans and pelicans fly here). One of the favorite, beautiful and romantic traditions of vacationers is the custom of feeding seagulls and swans on the city embankment.
Scientific research and local legends lead to the same conclusion regarding the age of Lake Orestiada - it is about ten million years old. A ride along its waters means about the same as touching the past, while enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the city from the water, which will not be seen by those who intend to spend their entire vacation only in Kastoria.
Dragon Cave
Not all those who vacation in Kastoria have heard about the secrets that lie in its underground world. The Dragon Cave is not a legendary fiction or fairy tale - this place actually exists, here extraordinary natural beauty and a modern system designed to preserve a unique microclimate have preserved natural magic for us.
The entrance to this strange cave, which is shaped like a monstrous mouth, is located fifteen meters from Lake Orestiada. According to local legend, the entrance was guarded by a dragon that spewed fire at uninvited guests.
This cave, the only one in the country, has seven lakes with fresh water, ten underground rooms of various sizes and five tunnels. Artificial lighting also contributes to the powerful impressions of visiting this natural wonder, thanks to which both hiking trails and rock formations are illuminated. The remains of a cave bear were discovered here; they are ten thousand years old.
Here is a map of Kastoria with streets → region Western Macedonia, Greece. We study a detailed map of Kastoria with houses and streets. Search in real time, weather today, coordinates
More details about the streets of Kastoria on the map
A detailed map of the city of Kastoria with street names will be able to show all the routes and roads of the Western Macedonia region, where the street is located. Koromila, what country, surroundings of the nearest settlement. Located near.
To view the territory of the entire region in detail, it is enough to change the scale of the online diagram +/-. The page contains an interactive map of the city of Kastoria (Greece) with addresses and routes of the area. Move its center to find Alketa street now.
The ability to plot a route across the country and calculate the distance using the “Ruler” tool, find out the length of the city and the path to the center, addresses of attractions in the region, transport stops and hospitals (the “Hybrid” scheme type), see the train stations and borders of the Western Macedonia region.
You will find all the necessary detailed information about the location of the city's infrastructure - stations and shops, squares and banks, highways and highways.
An accurate satellite map of Kastoria in Russian with Google search is in its own section, panoramas as well. Use Yandex search to show the desired house on a city map in Greece/the world, in real time.
Kastoria– one of the world’s most important centers for fur processing, production and sale of fur products. The name of this small picturesque town in northwestern Greece has been strongly associated with fur coats for many centuries. Their fame spread far beyond Greece. A huge variety of models, excellent quality and excellent prices attract buyers from many European countries. Fur coats from Kastoria are worn in almost all countries of the world.
Centuries-old traditions, excellent quality and international connections created over the years have made the fur production of Kastoria one of the main sectors of the national economy and the most profitable part of the country's exports.
Fur production in Kastoria: from the past to the present day
Probably everyone who has heard about Kastoria has asked themselves the question: why did this small town in warm and sunny Greece become one of the world centers for fur coat tailoring?
Climatic conditions in Kastoria, located at an altitude of 640 m above sea level, surrounded by mountains, have always been quite harsh. In winter, the temperature here dropped well below zero. Since ancient times, warm clothing made of fur has been necessary for the inhabitants of these places. And the beaver, which was found in abundance in Lake Orestiada, which often froze in the winter months, produced beautiful fur. Therefore, they began to sew clothes from fur here many millennia ago.
Fur processing began en masse in Kastoria back in Byzantine times, probably when the first immigrants from this region came to Constantinople and began to learn furrier skills. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the guild of furriers from Kastoria in Constantinople became very influential, with many of its members enjoying high prestige and influence in their field.
In the Ottoman Empire, the demand for fur was great: the Turks loved clothes made from luxurious furs, and they were also used to decorate military uniforms. The fashion for fur coats is spreading throughout Europe. At first they were sewn from whole animal skins. The furriers of Kastoria became regular visitors to Leipzig, which at that time was the center of the fur trade. At its permanent fair, which was held every year on the first Sunday after Easter, they buy furs from which they sew their famous fur coats. The fame of the art of furriers from Kastoria extends far beyond the borders of Greece and the Ottoman Empire. They create their representative offices in Europe and Russia. In the 18th century, when the demand for furs increased greatly and they became scarce, Furriers of Kastoria found their way out. They started sewing wonderful fur coats from pieces of fur, having come up with a new way of stitching skins, which they are famous for to this day.
For five centuries now, masters from Kastorians sew fur coats all in the same traditional way, requiring special skill, attention and patience. Their products are real works of high art and technology, the secrets of which are passed on from generation to generation. Fur processing and trade in fur coats have been the main economic activity of the city's residents for many years.
Every spring, since 1976, furrier specialists and simply buyers from all over the world come to Kastoria. The city's furriers' association holds an annual international fur fair here, which is considered one of the main fur exhibitions in the world. Among its participants are Italy, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Turkey, America, Poland, Spain, Russia and Canada. The last annual exhibition was attended by about 1,300 specialists from 38 countries and 6,000 ordinary buyers. The largest permanent exhibition center for fur products in Europe operates in Kastoria, where several thousand fur products are collected.
Currently, there are 38 fur farms in the region. Their number is expected to increase, reaching 90–100, and the production of fur products in Kastoria will reach an amount of more than 500 million euros. IN Kastoria work over 1200 fur factories and workshops. According to experts, sales of fur products are expected to double in Kastoria, which are aiming for 1 billion euros.
Greek furriers today purchase 5-7% of the world's total fur production and sell, respectively, 8-10% of finished clothing made from it. All this rightfully does Kastoria one of the world's largest centers for the production of fur clothing.
Kastoria (Greece) is a famous city located in the northwestern part of the country. The resort location is located on a peninsula. Not far from it is the famous Lake Orestia. This is one of the most ancient cities, which was founded in 840 BC. The name comes from the fact that the city was named so because there used to be a lot of beavers on the lake. At the moment, there is a large factory for sewing fur coats, and the Greek town is famous for its fur production. The skill has been passed down from generation to generation, and today Kastoria (Greece) is one of the most popular places where tourists come for fur coats.
Weather in Kastoria
The climate in the town is quite cool for a southern country; locals even call it “Siberia”, as it is the coldest of all places in Greece. In summer, the thermometer rises to approximately +25 °C, and in winter the air temperature warms up to only +5 °C. It is not uncommon to encounter winter days when the thermometer shows 0 °C.
Kastoria Greece
Resort attractions
Kastoria on the map of Greece is located on a peninsula. Here vacationers can find beautiful historical places that the whole family can visit. This place is rich in ancient Byzantine churches, there are more than seventy of them. The oldest church is considered to be the Church of Our Lady of Mavriotis; it was built back in the tenth century.
Travelers are offered excursions, during which vacationers will see not only architectural monuments and buildings, but also visit the surrounding area of the resort. You can go on a sightseeing tour of the city, choose a tour of the monasteries, or go outside the city to the “Dragon Cave”, where there are seven small lakes. Guests can also visit the prehistoric stone forest, see the Byzantine and Macedonian museums, stroll through the village on stilts built in the Neolithic era, and also see Lake Orestiada.
Advice! To view the sights and learn their history, it is worth contacting a guide who knows Russian.
Dragon Cave
Transport
How to get to this town can be found on the map. There are many city routes in Kastoria that are served by buses, so getting to one of the attractions is not difficult. If you need to get to the resort from Russia, you should first fly to Athens, and then take buses from there.
Beaches of Kastoria
There are no beaches in this city, so there will be nowhere to swim. Swimming is strictly prohibited in the nearby lake, but tourists can go fishing.
Kastoria beach
Excursions
Travelers have the opportunity to ride along the beautiful Lake Orestiada, which is considered one of the famous places in Greece. Back in 1974, the lake was recognized as a natural monument. Today, about two hundred species of birds live on it, and very rare species of birds can also be found. There is also a lot of fish here, and fishing is not prohibited.
Interesting! River Parties take place in August. This celebration is held every year near Kastoria. Musicians from all over the world come to the town for the festival.
Purchases
The city hosts the largest exhibition of fur products in Europe, called “Edika”. Fur shops offer catalogs with goods; tourists can pay in cash or by card. You can also buy souvenirs and quality clothing here. Feta cheese and locally produced olive oil are highly prized.
Kastoria is not difficult to find on a map of Greece. This small town will appeal to vacationers for its historical sites and landscapes. Every tourist will find entertainment to his liking. This could be fishing, excursions or shopping.
Kastoria is a region and city of the same name in Western Greece. These places are famous for their mysterious beauty, clean mountain air and, of course, world-famous furs. Every year an exhibition of fur coats is held here, where numerous fur factories in the city display their products. But it is not only the exhibition that attracts tourists from all over the world to Kastoria. In this region, you will get to know the legendary Lake Orestiada, with 72 churches built in the Byzantine era, with interesting museums and wildly fun local holidays. You can rest assured that your trip to Kastoria will be one you will remember for the rest of your life!
Geography
The region of Kastoria belongs to Western Macedonia. The area of the nome is 1720 km2. The city of Kastoria is located on a peninsula at an altitude of 703 m above sea level. The city is washed on three sides by the picturesque Lake Orestiada, and the peninsula is connected to the land by a narrow strip of land. In addition, Kastoria is also located between the mountains Vitsi and Grammos. Largely due to its unusual geographical location, Kastoria is called one of the most beautiful cities in Greece.
Climate
The climate is subtropical. In summer the average temperature is +25 degrees, and in winter +5 degrees. There are often winters when the temperature drops below zero, and then the water in Lake Orestiada becomes covered with ice. Due to the climate and cold winters by Greek standards, Kastoria was previously often called the Siberia of Greece.
Population and tourism
According to the latest census, the population of Kastoria is about 19 thousand people. The national composition is quite homogeneous: the vast majority of residents are native Greeks. By religion, about 98% of Kastorians belong to the independent Greek Orthodox Church.
Mythology and history
Officially, the founding of Kastoria dates back to 840 BC. In antiquity, the city had other names: Keletron and Diakletianopolis, and the current name appeared in the Middle Ages, most likely due to the large number of beavers living here (beaver in ancient Greek is called “castor”). In 525, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of a wall with towers on this site. So Kastoria became the western bastion of Byzantium. At the turn of the millennium the city was under Bulgarian rule, but eventually returned to the Byzantine Empire in 1018. Then Kastoria was alternately owned by the Normans and the Byzantines, and then the city went to the Despotate of Epirus. The Turkish yoke reached Kastoria in 1383 and lasted on these lands for almost 500 years. However, the region, despite difficult times, managed to preserve national identity and even became one of the most significant centers of Hellenism on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. Several important operations took place in the city of Kastoria during the national liberation war of the Greeks against the Turks in 1821. Kastoria was finally liberated from Turkish rule on November 11, 1912. During the First and Second World Wars, the inhabitants of Kastoria made an invaluable contribution to the fight against the invaders: the Italians, Germans and Bulgarians. One of the main myths of Kastoria is associated with the legendary son of Zeus - King Kekropos. According to legend, this mythical demigod had a human torso and snake-like legs. King Kekrop built his famous “Kekrop wall” on the peninsula, which protected the only passage to this land. Another ancient Greek myth tells us that Kastoria owes its name to another son of Zeus - Castoras (Castor), who loved to look into the surface of Lake Orestiada every morning and watch the life of the gods on Olympus.
Traditions and customs
Many traditions of Kastoria are associated with the main activity of the local residents - furrier craft and the production of fur products. This tradition is passed down from generation to generation: some families have been practicing only this craft for centuries. Kastorians cannot live without holidays and festivals. When holiday festivities (carnivals) begin in the city, all other matters fade into the background. There are many local traditions associated with carnivals. For example, during the Ragutsariya holiday, mummers dressed as beggars tease passers-by on the streets, go from house to house and ask for treats from their owners. Previously, residents dressed in animal costumes, and then in the clothes of people of the opposite sex or in the costume of the god Bacchus. According to custom, a mask is also worn along with the costume. At night during carnivals, no one sleeps: everyone walks, dances, plays musical instruments and sings.
Attractions
Kastoria cannot be called a resort, since there are no beaches in the city as such. Despite the fact that Kastoria is washed on three sides by Lake Orestiada, it is not customary to swim in it; it is more suitable for fishing and for walking on water transport. The peculiarities of the geographical location have had a rather unique influence on the development of the tourism industry in the region, and if you are going to visit Kastoria, you should imagine that not hot beaches on the seashore await you here, but interesting historical sights, exhibitions and sales of famous local fur coats and, of course , amazing nature of the region.
Entertainment
Kastoria can offer a lot of entertainment for everyone who wants to pay attention to this wonderful city. The most inquisitive tourists will be satisfied with the various excursion routes to the sights of Kastoria, which local guides have prepared for them. Activities here include all types of water sports, including windsurfing, rowing and sailing. Rowing competitions are often held on Lake Orestiada. There is a well-equipped ski complex 22 km from the city on Mount Vitsa. For those who prefer to spend time more quietly, special places for fishing are organized. Nightlife in Kastoria is very vibrant. Towards evening, local bars, taverns, restaurants and discos begin to fill with visitors. Traditional local holidays give the city a special flavor. The popular Ragutsaria carnival takes place from January 6 to 8. At this time, the streets of the city turn into a huge stage, where you can see wonderful performances with songs, performances and dances. Holidays in Kastoria can also be beneficial for your health. In the village of Ammoudara, 16 km from Kastoria, there are several mineral springs with healing properties. There is also a hydrotherapy clinic here.
Shopping
Of course, the main shopping item in Kastoria is local fur products, especially fur coats. Special shopping tours are held for these goods from many countries around the world. If you are going to Kastoria to buy a fur coat, then first of all you need to go to the exhibition and sale in the EDIKA shopping complex. The products of world famous fur manufacturers are sold here: Avanti, Afrodita Furs, Naoumi, Unipel, Fantastik Furs, Chrissos, Estelle and many others. Rest assured that here you can definitely find a fur coat to suit every taste and budget.
Transport and movement
The easiest way to get to Kastoria is by bus from the Macedonia intercity bus station, which is located in the city of Thessaloniki. The bus runs every 2 hours, and the travel time will be 3-4 hours. In the city itself, many tourists prefer to travel on foot, although you can always call a taxi or rent a car. Airport. The bulk of tourists enter the city through the airport near Thessaloniki, located 220 km from Kastoria. This distance is covered quite quickly, since there is a highway between Thessaloniki and Kastoria. There is also a local airport, from where flights from Kastoria to Athens operate three times a week. Water transport. On Lake Orestiada you can rent a boat and retire somewhere in the center of this legendary body of water. The boat offers beautiful views of the shores of the lake, and you can also fish here. Bus travel. From Kastoria you can take a bus to Thessaloniki and Athens. From the city itself, bus excursions are constantly organized to popular attractions located outside the city: the Cave of Dragons, the lake settlement of Dispilio, etc. Car rental. Renting a car in Kastoria is not difficult. However, when driving a rental car, you should be aware of some local traffic conditions. The city center is oversaturated with transport, so finding free parking is often quite problematic. Taxi. Many tourists who value comfort and speed of travel prefer to use a taxi. A taxi can be called by phone or found at a special parking lot.
Kitchen and food
In Kastoria, tourists can always taste the famous dishes typical of Northern Greece. Most dishes include meat and vegetables baked in pots. Here you will definitely be treated to local pies, cabbage rolls, and sesame pies. One of the popular local dishes is Smyrna-style cutlets, which are oblong-shaped meatballs with a signature tomato sauce. You can also try moussaka - a Greek casserole made from eggplant, minced meat, bechamel sauce and potatoes. Local taverns, restaurants and cafes offer quite an extensive menu and a rich wine list. Frappe is very popular among soft drinks. Real Greek coffee can be found in almost any eatery in the city.