Worth seeing in the Kerkini area
Boat rides, horseback routes through the mountain and the lake, rare birds, ancient water buffaloes, incredible food, hiking trails and traditional events throughout the year are just some of the reasons why it’s worth exploring the most alternative lake in Greece.
Feathered roommates, water buffaloes, water lilies and horses on the banks, quiet little villages and a riverside forest are pieces of a unique puzzle of alternative tourism, just a breath away from Thessaloniki.
Lake Kerkini has always been there, in the shadow of Mount Belles, once called Lake Kerkinitis and during the Ottoman era renamed Butkovo Lake. Its present form (a creation of human intervention) came in the early 1930s, thanks to the dam built in the village of Lithotopos. Since then, many things have changed in the area, except for its natural beauty, which the locals take care to preserve. And that is the secret that helped Kerkini evolve into an alternative oasis for visitors from all over Greece and Europe.
The Lake
It is among the 10 wetlands of International Importance in Greece and has been declared a National Park. The lake’s functioning creates different images in every season, while hosting a variety of bird species. With a boat ride – with the traditional “plaves” that sail calmly on its waters – we admire the water lilies, the water buffaloes lazily swimming, the willows, and the dozens of impressive birds that flood the lake, from storks and Dalmatian pelicans to herons and flamingos, especially during migration seasons.
Roupel Fort
The last piece of Historical tourism that is strong in the prefecture of Serres is Roupel Fort. Today it operates as a monument open to everyone, where guided tours allow visitors to learn about this major part of History.
The visitor of the fort can reach Roupel via the Sidirokastro–Promachonas road, and before the Promachonas Customs they turn right, at the point where the bust of Ioannis Metaxas stands in a white marble memorial. At the military camp facilities, military personnel accompany you both to the information area and through the tunnels, where the appointment with the history of the Forts is completed.
See how to get there! Alistrati Cave
Fifty kilometers southeast of the city of Serres, near the settlement of Alistrati, lies the cave of the same name, which became known in May 1975 after an official document of the then Community of Alistrati to the speleological society. Its size and rare beauty attract not only speleologists, paleontologists, geologists, and explorers, but also any ordinary visitor who wants to admire up close a masterpiece of nature.
The known surface of the cave covers 25,000 m2, and in many places, sediments dating back about 2,000,000 years have been found. Measurements show that the temperature is almost constant at 20°C, with humidity around 75%. The cave’s reputation is huge both nationally and internationally, and more than 100,000 people visit it every year. Why shouldn’t you be one of them?
See how to get there! Amphipolis Museum
The museum is located at the archaeological site of the ancient city of Amphipolis, which was the most important in the region during the 5th century BC, and since the time of Theseus was called “Nine Roads.” The museum houses monuments of the city’s history and the culture of ancient and Christian times. Its exhibition spaces summarize the cultural history of Amphipolis from prehistoric to late Byzantine times. The location of the museum is thought to be connected with General Brasidas, who was buried outside the walls by the people of Amphipolis in 422 BC.
See how to get there! The Food
The local specialties will steal your heart: Here you will taste the best buffalo steaks, as well as many more buffalo-based dishes, such as oven-cooked meat, buffalo sausages, or wild boar with quince. Buffalo milk guarantees very special desserts and dairy products, while the lake’s fish become delicious meze dishes at the tavernas of the lakeside villages. All of the above abound in every tavern of the area.
Local Products
At the small port of the village Kerkini, at the Women’s Cooperative in Ano Poroia, and at other key spots along the lakeside routes, you will find stalls with locals selling pure local products. Liqueurs, herbs, sweets, and legumes await you in jars to take home and use in your own recipes with a touch of Kerkini’s aroma.
Hiking Routes
The lake in the middle, Mount Belles on one side and Mount Mavrovouni on the other. This is the landscape that blesses Kerkini National Park with incredible trails for hiking and mountain lovers. The easy routes (three to five kilometers) start by the lake or run along the river and the eastern embankment. The harder ones follow the uphill paths from Ano Poroia to the peak of Mount Belles – and along the ridge, there are many options for extra explorations that can last whole days, which is why expeditions with tents are organized.
Sights of the surrounding area
Around the Strymon and in the wider area of Serres, you will come across the famous Roupel Fort, above the village of Promachonas. This large fort was the battlefield of the Greek-German war in April 1941 and today operates as a monument with its own museum (tel: 2321095102). At the entrance of the Middle Strymon valley, you will also find a Neolithic settlement, next to the now-abandoned Greek village of Mesaia Nea Petritsi, near the Greek-Bulgarian border. You can also visit the thermal springs of Sidirokastro and remote Agistro, with Byzantine baths and facilities for… healing dips even in winter. In Sidirokastro, you will also find the Tsartsidis Historical and Folklore Museum, where you can learn about the traditional life of the locals, while in the settlement of Vyronia you will find an aquarium with an information hall about the fish fauna of the area.
