Arachova - the queen of the greek winter

In the National Forest Parnassus, there are enough glades, many peaks, canyons, valleys, slopes, caves – like the Korukeion Antron – which makes it ideal for visitors who love natural settings and want to enjoy moments of pleasure and recreation. Talking a walk in the Parnassus National Park offers a unique opportunity to observe rare species of forest vegetation and wildlife. Besides the Cephalonian Fir that dominates most of the area, wild plums and black pines occupy a large portion of it. Among the fauna of Parnassus National Park fauna, foxes, badgers, hares, rodents, and insectivorous species are the most prevalent. Parnassus National Park is also home to birds such as partridges, woodpeckers, blackbirds, a variety of wild lizards, vipers, and frogs as well as reptiles like the Mediterranean tortoise.

The Corycian Cave plays a significant part in Delphi mythology since it was sacred to Pan and the nymphs, and they were the presiding Deities of the oracle during winter when Apollo abandoned the spot. We recommend that you allow a full day for this excursion (4hr for the ascent to the cave, 3hr 30min back to Delphi), and take ample food with you. To reach the trailhead follow the signs up through Delphi village to the Museum of Delphic Festivals. Continue by climbing the fence surrounding the sanctuary ruins to the highest point. Take a trail on your left, where the track ends at a gate initially marked by a black-and-yellow rectangle on a white background; these are repeated regularly and indicate the trail is part of the E4 European long-distance route. Initially steep, the path soon flattens out on a grassy knoll overlooking the stadium and continues along a ridge. You then follow an ancient cobbled trail coming from inside the fenced precinct – the Kakí Skála, which zigzags up the slope above you in broad arcs. The path ends approximately an hour and a half distance above the village, at the top of the Phaedriades cliffs. People who committed sacrilege in ancient times were thrown to their deaths from nearby rock pinnacles, an act that earned the name Kakí Skála or “Evil Stairway”. E4 markers remain visible in the valley ahead of you, as the principal route becomes a gravel track heading northeast; ignore them and follow a metal sign pointing toward the cave. Take the right fork near the Krokí spring, with a complex of summer cottages on your right. During a fifteen-minute walk, the track crosses a picnic ground and a chapel dedicated to Ayía Paraskeví. Continuing for forty minutes beyond the chapel, heading downhill and passing another sign for the cave, you emerge from the fir woods (2hr 40min from Delphi) with a view east and ahead to the rounded mass of the Yerondóvrahos peak (2367m) of the Parnassos massif. Another fifteen minutes bring you to a second chapel (of Ayía Triádha) on the left, with a spring and picnic ground. To the left rises a steep ridge, the site of the ancient Corycian Cave. Walk 5 more minutes along the road where a white bilingual sign indicates a newer path, which will be indicated by orange paint splotches and red triangles. A forty-minute climb on this dirt road leads you to another dirt road; turn left and follow it another five minutes to its end, just below the cave mouth at an altitude of 1370 meters. In ancient times, the cave was used for orgiastic rites in November, when women acting as nymphs would take a long hike up from Delphi on the Kakí Skála by torchlight. The entrance of the cavern has ancient inscriptions which you can see if you have a torch; without artificial light, you can’t see more than 100m into the chilly cavern. Near the entrance, there’s also rock with a circular indentation – perhaps the remains of an ancient altar for libations.

Delphi (Delfí), lying on the slopes of Mount Parnassus high above the Gulf of Corinth, is one of the most famous historic sites in Greece, known throughout the ancient Greek world and beyond as the sanctuary of Apollo and the shrine of his oracle. Today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Delphi ranks with the Acropolis in Athens, Olympia, and the island of Delos as one of the most important tourist attractions of the classical period of ancient Greece. Its wealth of remains combines with its magnificent mountain setting and its importance in Greek mythology to make Delphi one of the high points of a visit to Greece.

Mount Parnassos, with an altitude of 2,260 meters, ranks among the highest mountains in Greece. Its spectacular geomorphology and rich biodiversity place it among the most important mountain environments in our country. Here you will find the biggest downhill ski resort in Greece. The mountain’s high altitude offers ski lovers long-lasting snow-covered peaks, and the mountain is a very popular spot for visitors as it is located near Athens. The ski resort consists of two locations, Kellária and Fterólakka, which are connected with lifts and runs. A third one, Yerodóvrahos, is a small separate resort linked with Kellária by ski trails. The ski resort boasts 23 ski runs (3 difficult, 8 intermediate, 8 easy & 4 very easy) with a total length of 27 km, and 13 ski and chair lifts.

The Monastery of Osios Loukas is an 11th-century monastery located in the area of Distomo, about 30 km from Arachova. This monastery is the epitome of Byzantine architecture while it is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Within the monastery complex, visitors will come across the Church of Theotokos (Virgin Mary), the only church in Greece that is certain to have been built in the 10th century. It is believed that the monastery was famous and rich in its time. It derived its wealth mostly because pilgrims would come to pay homage to the tomb of Saint Lucas, which exuded Myron (a nice smell) and could work miracles. A few decades later, the bones of Saint Lucas were transferred to Rome. The churches of the monastery include valuable relics, altar cloths, gold and silver plates, beautiful frescoes, and mosaics. Of course, time and conquerors have damaged many of them, but they are still representative of the Byzantine church architecture.