local recipes of W.Macedonia >>
Valia Calda
The shelter 'Valia Calda " is offered especially for educational trips for Universities and Schools, that are occupied with environmental
themes. In the place "Lariani" 3 km before the village of Bovousas, is the shelter "Balia Kalnta". A spare and simple building, built with care, aesthetically blends with nature and the environment of the area.The shelter can accommodate 50 people. Accommodated in bunk beds divided into three rooms, in the first floor. The rooms characterized by spaciousness, comfort and cleanliness. The shelter provides guests with the traditional warm hospitality of Epirus, while they helping them to experience the unrivaled beauty of our country. It created to serve the friends of the mountain, nature lovers, hikers, sports enthusiasts of mountain bike, climbing, canoeing - kayaking. Willingly and in every detail, its people provide information to all visitors for the anthropogenic and natural environment, the hiking routes, cycling routes, while experienced mountain guides make environmental tours of the National Park "Valia Calda"..
For more information visit hours, etc. visit http://www.katafigiovaliacalda.com/index.htm
Paleontology Museum
The Museum of Milia is open 09.00 - 17.00 weekends and 09.00 - 14.00 from Wednesday to Friday. Monday and Tuesday closed.
For more information: 6947-046702 or visit the official website of the museum http://www.mfi-miliasgrevenon.gr/site/
Mushroom Museum
The space with audiovisual means that dispose is appropriate for seminars - workshops and becomes to a presentation room with an educational and informative content. Thus enables schools and groups to visit the area and meet the learning pursuits in nature and the environment.
Many field trips organized for the stone bridges of the county and the religious monuments.
Regional Unit Kastoria
The cave is on northern side of the city in the 2nd km of the lakeside road Sougaridi and just before the Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa.The entrance is about 20 meters from the lake shore and 14 meters from the road.
Inside there are large terrestrialand lacustrine sections with impressive stalagmatic decoration as it includes 7 underground lakes , 10
rooms and 5 lanes -tunnels.The biggest cave hall has dimensions 45x17 meters with the central part elevated and sides reaching in the lakes.The big lake of the cave , which is the deepest lying west .The temperature inside the cave is stable all year to 16-18c whilethe humidity reaches 90%.
Inside the cave of the Dragon cave found paleontological remains , the main bones of an arctos bear or cave bear (Ursus Speleaus) .This species lived in Europe during the Pleistocene and became extinct about 10,000 years ago .Its name comes from the fact that the
It is important that it have been received all necessary measures for the safety of visitors and the interventions inside made with a way so nothing can change the physical condition of the cave.fossilized remains almost remains exclusively located in caves , where apparently he was staying for longer , unlike the brown bear which used only the caves during hibernation .It is estimated that the weight of maleswas reaching 400-500kg and 200-250 kg for females.It was basically vegeterian and occasional carnivore.
For information regarding the visitable hours or prices of the tickets etc http://www.spilaiodrakoukast.gr/
The existence of the cave does not seem to be known until modern times.In written testimonies of the Turkish rule era there is no mention for the cave , nor in the oldest historical testimonials.It is speculated that the entrance of the cave until some era was not visible due to sedimentation , but also because the lakeside trail was rough and accessible only by the lake.Amateur explorers from Kastoria , people with envirnomental sensitivites in the decade of 40 , the era that was drilled and the lakeside road by General Soungaridi were the first who discovered and described the great beauty of the cave and threw threw the first idea of the exploitation.This is the time that is recorded the myth about the "Dragon"from whom the cave took it's name.
Historical Development
The Historic of Explotation
Kastoria owes much to our fellow Nick Pistikos , Kostas Frasia , Anastasios Basakymo , Th Morfidi and many others and later in 1954to the swedish explorer Linberg , who wandered inside the cave and informed the local community for the incomparable beauty stone decoration.In 1963 Kastorians scouts in cooperation with the Greek Speleological Society gave us the first rough mapping and the first photographs of the interior , while later the cave was recorded in the official Bulletin of the annual Greek Speleological Company.
The first serious attempt was made in 1963 by Jonny Zervoudaki and G.S.S(Greek Speleogical Society) to complete the data collection and to train new speleologists.It was repeated in 1964 and 1965.The investigation and mapping of the Dragon cave escalated in 1966 and completed in 1969 by a team of G.S.S. led by K.Palikaropoulo , who alongside drew up a premeditation of turist use for the cave.
Followed and other explorations which always strengthened the view of the suitability of the cave for use.
Slowly it starts to mature in the local community's view the need to exploit the cave and with constant press reports starts a pressure in this direction.
In 1995 , authorized officials from the Ephorate of Speleology of the culture ministry invited by the municipality , to carry out a research in the cave entrance and based on a earlier preliminary study of tourism by the civil enginer enginer Mr Palikaropoulos amateur speleologist in collaboration with the Association "Friends of the Envirnoment" , submitted a formal conclusion on the appropriateness and the exploitation potientiality.
Subsequenlty the Municipality of Kastoria focused on searching funds for the drafting of the final study. The funds were secured by the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace and the drafting of the study assigned to Kastorian scholars and supervisors of the technical service of Municipality.The study included all the necessary sub-categories of studies, topographical, architectural, static, electromechanical, study of special fixatives operations, hydraulik, envirnomental and management. Then the project "Exploiting Dragon Cave of Kastoria" Joined the R.O.P (Regional Operational Program) of West Macedonia.
In 1998 approved by the Ministry of Culture the tourist premeditation and the operations finally began in 2007.The project undertaken by the consurtium "Teligioridis -Felekidis"with co-supervision of the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology -Speleology of northen Greece.
All the prediceted operations , so that the cave can be visited as well the landscaping and buildings that serve the en tire operation of the cave , implemented by mild methods of intervention especially within the order not to distort the rich stalactite decoration , while the external interference have architectural character that respects the local architectural traditions using local materials on the facades , stone wood and decrative ceramics.The Dragon cave opened its doors to the public on December 13 2009 and inagurated on December 29 2009 by the minister of Culture and Turism .Geroulanos and the president of the house Mr Petsalnikos.
"Many centuries ago that great cave that is before the monastery of Mavriotissa was a goldmine and have been guarding by a dragon that breathed and was gouged from his mouth flames and poisoned vapors.
After the building of Kastoria (7th or 9th century) the first king Castor , wanting to entertain his guest brother Polideukis and his father in law Kelly priest of the God , releaved
this huge cave.However , the presence of the dragon prevented their approach to the cave.Then the king promised great gifts to him who kill the dragon.A young man showed.A fierce fight with the dragon started .Hitting it with a pole that trembled surrounding rocks and shaked the lake waters.The monster beaten and floated dead upon the water of the lake.They celebrated the fact and thanks was given to Pan.And then with lit torches they went to the cave with stoopingly heads so they dont strike them to stalactites.The depth extended in kilometers and the atmosphere was suffocating from the shortage of oxygen.In a place where the tunnel narrows extinguised the torches and thick darkness hugged them all.Then they heard an eerie voice say :He that will crouch to get a handful of mud thats steps he will regret it. The most brave one bended down and took mud and filled their bosom.The others who scared didint dared to do this.When they came out in sunlight the ones who kept the mud were surprised that they were holding liquid gold dust...."
Thats how describes the Folklorist D.Giannousis (Akropolis 7.11.54) the tradition about the Dragon cave
Petrified forest in Nostimo
Do not forget to visit the exhibition area that hosts many finds from the Petrified Forest. Open from 10.00 to 17.00 for November to March and from 10.00 to 14.00 & 17.00 to 20.00 for April to October.
Tel. 24670 84588, mobile phone. 6932695955 Cultural Association Nostimo, tel. 24670 84585
Representation of the Lake settlement
To visit the Temporary Museum:
For a day trip to the Lake Area Representation of the settlement:
information on Tel. 24670 85765 (Excavation Group lakeside settlement). Free pass .
Login: For elementary students free. Information on Tel. 24670 21910 (Winter hours 9.00 - 17.00).
For High School Students 1 € per person.
Adult 4 € per person. For adult group 3 € per person.
To visit the Area Representation of the settlement:
Archaelogical Museum Argos Orestiko
The Archaeological Museum of Kastoria operates in a wing area of 650 sq.m. of the Cultural Centre Argos Orestikou, which is granted by the municipality for this purpose. The report is developed on the ground floor and the floor of the building in two halls of total area 169 sq.m., without lighting openings. The O.Q. of Kastoria covers the central part of the ancient Orestidos. For this reason, the exhibition at the Archaeological Museum follows four interconnected sections a) the political and social development of the racial formation of Orestes in the Early Iron Age and the Early Archaic Period (first section), b) the independent Macedonian kingdom of Orestidos the late Archaic and Classical period (second section), c) upon itself part of Macedonia from the time of Philip II to the Roman conquest (C section) and d) (in the floor) on an autonomous area under the Romans particularly political and religious privileges (D section). There is an effort that the supervisory means of the exhibition Attempting to supervisory inside the report (information islet in the hallway leading to the exhibition floor, texts in Greek and English, maps, photographs, archaeological plans and representation ) to meet visitors information needs of every age and level of education, particularly in groups of pupils as today constitute the largest public museum in the region.
Wax Statues Museum
The various exhibits are divided into thematic sections that visitors - mostly students - to learn easily and methodically the development of our civilization since ancient times to modern. Also serves as a cultural center with a variety of activities: theater - musical - literary evening - exhibitions of artists, etc library.
tel. 24670 74870, mob. 6970 39 21 96
Byzantine Museum
The museum contains the following collections:
Scuptures Collection
Woodcuts Objects Collection
Ecclesiastic Objects Collection (Manuscripts, Liturgical vessels etc)
Auxiliary exhibition material (maps, photographs, explanatory texts) introduces the visitor to the subject of the exhibition and contributes to a better understanding.
Telephone 2467026781
Also educational tours are made for the famous mansions of Kastoria.
Get informed also from the Environmental Education Center of Kastoria , which was established with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education and the Municipality of Kastoria in late 1995. The building that houses donated by kastoria Municipality and located at the city entrance of Kastoria. The Ministry of Education funds the center through the NSRF and provide the educational staff. A Workpiece of Pedagogical Team of the center is primarily the students training on environmental issues, training of teachers, production of teaching materials, the development of thematic networks, local and international collaborations as well and the research in environmental themes and environmental education.
National park Reconciliation
For which reason someone would visit the national park of Reconciliation?
First for all for the contact with a truly unspoilt natural environment, a forest almost "magical" well worth to walk so you can watch close the wonderful wildflowers of Grammos. It may even meet and one of the deers, hares in that area.
For the contact with History: Anyone can visit the photo exhibition of historical content entitled "Grammos: Journeys in History" which emphasizes the daily lives of people, mostly in Western Macedonia from the late 19th century until the civil war. In the exhibition present, through photographs, the major historical events that marked the Greek story of the 20th century, the Macedonian Struggle, the Balkan Wars, the First and the Second World War, the Italian-German occupation and the civil war.
To watch the tour made in the exhibition of historical photographs which unfolds throughout the modern history of our country, the Macedonian Struggle until the Civil War, but the emphasis should civil war.
To visit the photo exhibition entitled "Grammos: Routes in Nature" where visitors can admire pictures of the most striking and beautiful landscapes of this mountainous region, and photos of the species of flowers, butterflies, birds and animals that live in it.
To monitor the specially designed rooms of the reports especially documentaries about the history and natural
To use the park as a base for excursions by car, to Charon, to Arenas (Lake Moutsalia) Aetomilitsa, the village Grammos, Nestorio, the Pefkofyto the waters, and the other villages in the area (Kotyli, Kypseli, Pine,Xrusi, etc.).
In order to come and read books in the library or come to stay and write a homework or any text or book
away from the noise and the city hassles.
To taste the delicious food offered by the Women's Association the Women of Nestorio
To enjoy the stay in large, clean rooms at the guesthouse in a quiet and charming natural surroundings.
Center of envirnomental education
The Environmental Education Center of Kastoria (CEE) was created in 1995 in cooperation with the Municipality of Kastoria with the Ministry of Education. Located at the entrance of the city and the building houses rooms with a library, a biology lab and around the park is the environmentalist park.
Tel. Contact: 24670-23069
Website: www.kpe.gr
Aquarium of Kastoria
"ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW"
The aquarium of Kastoria "Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew", with respect to the accuracy of knowledge, hosts native and endemic fish and freshwater organisms (lakes and rivers) in Greece. Our promise to welcome the questions of the new generation and beyond.An obligation, to convert them to a new knowledge, with a purpose the harmonious human-lakes-rivers coexistence. An aquarium that recreating Mediterranean lake and river ecosystems in a contemporary way, offering a unique spectacle for young and old, to raise awareness and inform the public on the diversity of species and their habitats.
Grab the opportunity and explore the lakes and rivers of Greece with us.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 09.00 -17.00
Environmental Park Kastoria Tel. Contact: 24670 80229
Macedonian Struggle Museum
Macedonian Struggle Museum of Kastoria, which was founded by our Association bearing the name Association "Friends of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle". What you can see in our museum:
- Rich photographic material of the era of the Macedonian Struggle.
- Relics delivered by the descendants of Macedonian fighters.
We aspire this Museum is not just an exhibition of relics, but a living historical memory organization. For this reason, we organized the seminary of Local History and the Research and Documentation Local History.
The Association's attempt to set up this museum had parallel actions such as:
Organization of conferences, national, educational and historical content.:
Organization of scientific symposia
Publishing history textbooks local and general interest
SUNDAY 9: 30p.m.- 2: pm., CLOSED MONDAY, TUESDAY - FRIDAY 9: 30p.m.- 2: pm SATURDAY 10: 30p.m - 1: 30: pm.
TEL - FAX: 24670 21144.
Foklore Museum
In one of the most picturesque streets of the city, stands the mansion of Nerantzis Aivazi, which since 1975 houses the Museum. Here you can find a hospitable roof , the material testimonies of the place, items in daily life at home and in work, objects related to rituals and celebrations. The Visitor can tour to the imposing "krevata", the space that housed the official ceremonies and celebrations, the "good mezzanine" as well as in the daily summer room
that in the present houses for the needs of the museum the representation of a fur workshop. Special impression causes the wall-painting that adorns inside the building, on a nostalgic landscape of Istanbul. The house was painted for the most part, but when the owners whitewashed walls, from the advice of doctors , to prevent tuberculosis,also many decorations have been lost. In the shed of the mansion are the mixer, the food pantry and storage of wines.
tel. 2467028603, Mondays the museum is closed.
Delinaneio Museum
The district Doltso houses this museum since 1977, under the care of the Association Ladies Kastoria. As for the exhibits: all the old guarding the fur on their chests objects that were either as heirlooms or as dowry. Saturday - Sunday 11.00 to 13.00.
Costume Museum
In this museum the visitor gets a glimpse of the daily life of Kastorian of old times, through the clothes that they wore. The costumes along with jewels, who are
liveliest expressions of popular culture. Illustrating, with the diversity and specificities, the lifestyle, the social stratification and contacts of the residents of the region with the Europe and the world. The museum is housed in the mansion of the Sisters Emmanuel, a wonderful example of traditional architecture of 1750 and the exhibits include clothing for men and women, children's costumes and a rich collection of jewelery from the wider area. Its operation is based on the support of music philology association "HARMONY" who looking after for the enrichment and the preservation of the collection.accompanying constitute one of the
On Mondays the museum is closed. Telephone 24670 28603
Regional Union of Kozani
It includes the following thematic categories: Natural History Exhibition (from the Paleolithic era to modern times), Arcaeological- Byzantine exhibition (from 7000 BC to 1453 AD), Historical report (from 1453-1944) , Folklore exhibition, which is considered the most important, (from 1640-1960), Gallery of modern times, Stamp Collection (1861-2004) and radios Collection (1930-1960).
For opening hours and other information see the official site http://www.mouseio-kozanis.gr/
Archaelogical Museum Aiane
The exhibition includes warehouses suitably shaped for safety and wear treatment by climatic conditions, full equiped and organized workshops, office, library, drawing, tool shed-carpentry, guest room and Conference Hall, equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment, in which, among other things, operate the Educational Programs of Aiane begun in 1988 is now organized in 15 themed modules.
http://www.mouseioaianis.gr/
Local History Museum
The Contemporary Museum of Local History, in the street Vitsi 29 works:
Monday to Friday 10:30 to 13:30
Wednesday 10:30 to 13:30 and 17:30 to 20:30
Information: 24610 2128
Regional unit of Florina
Information center for lakes Cheimaditida and Zazari
The center's visitor has the opportunity to gain an overall picture of the area, which is described with data on ecosystems, the character, but also the history of the region.
More specifically, in the reception hall the visitor is informed about the functions and locations of the data center, and then presented information on the history of the 4 lakes of Amyntaio basin, about the geomorphological anaglyph of the area, for the aquifers which connect the four lakes each other and for some of the residents of lakes such as the wolf, otter and bear. The information center has a projection room with the possibility of electronic and digital presentation of information on the flora and fauna around the lakes, and the types of fish found in lakes, for the wet meadows etc. Finally, from the observatory can anyone watch birds with binoculars and be informed about traditional fishing methods and marketability of fish, while in the same place is exposed and an old wooden boat. In the Information Center operates a cafeteria where visitors can enjoy a coffee or juice overlooking Cheimaditida lake and the mountain of Agios Minas with its rich flora and fauna.
The center is open all the days except Wednesday and tours last 40 minutes.
The website of the Information Centre of the Lakes and Cheimaditida Zazari can be found at the following address http://www.kpxeimaditidas.gr/
Envirnomental center Arcturus
Details of the Arcturus center you will find inf Florina -Geography - Center Arcturus.Κέντρο Αρκτουρος.
Information athttp://www.arcturos.gr/el/main.php.