Kastellia
Imagine a charming village nestled in the foothills of Gkiona and Oiti, where history whispers from every corner and nature's beauty surrounds you. That's Kastellia for you! It's a sprawling village with about 695 friendly residents, blending cozy, close-knit sections with more spread-out areas. You'll find us just 2 km northwest of Gravia, perched at an elevation of 450 meters, with the stunning basin of the Boeotian Kifissos stretching out before us.
Getting here is a breeze! We're right on the main road connecting Lamia and Amfissa. We're about 40 km from Lamia, 35 km from Amfissa, and just 185 km from Athens. A paved road winds through Kastellia, leading you to the beautiful mountain villages of our municipality, like Oinochori, Sklethro, and Kaloskopi, as well as those in the Kallieis Municipality.
Our village is proud of its modern Community-Municipal Building. Downstairs, it serves the needs of our local council, while the upstairs has been lovingly transformed into a six-room guesthouse, which will be opening its doors very soon! While many of us call Kastellia home year-round, you'll also find many of our folks living in Lamia, Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Larissa, and even abroad in places like America and Australia.
A Journey Through Time
Kastellia's story begins during the Frankish rule, when it was founded by the Frankish lord Boniface of Montferrat. That's when it got its name, too, meaning "castle" or "fortress." You can still see the ruins of the old castle at "Paliokastelli," the site of the original village. After the Greek Revolution in 1821, our ancestors moved about 7 km away and built the new village right where it stands today.
The ancient Pindos River, now known as Kifissos, gracefully flows through Kastellia, dividing it into two neighborhoods connected by a large, welcoming bridge.
Life in the Village
Our community thrives on its traditions! The locals are involved in animal husbandry, cultivating tobacco, growing delicious vegetables and cereals, and tending to olive and grapevines. The tobacco plantations and orchards are lovingly irrigated by the Kifissos (Pindos) River, thanks to a 7 km concrete canal.
Our main church is the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, standing proudly in the village square, shaded by cool, tall plane trees. You'll also find many charming chapels: Agios Athanasios in "Chlomo," Agios Athanasios in "Evangelistria," Agios Nikolaos, Panagia in the Cemetery, Agios Nektarios, Agios Georgios in "Barouka," and the countryside chapels of Agios Athanasios on the slopes of Gkiona, as well as Agios Georgios and Agios Ioannis, nestled among dense oak forests a little way out of the village.
Echoes of the Past
Kastellia boasts a rich history, stretching back to ancient times! While archaeological activity and systematic research have been limited, there's no doubt that much more remains to be discovered. Above the cemetery, on the slope of Agios Vasileios, you can still see the ruins of an acropolis with an isodomic wall and massive limestone blocks. This was once the ancient Doric city of "Erinneos," sadly destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC, and now designated as an archaeological site by the Ministry of Culture. Remnants of homes and acropolises are scattered throughout the area, like in the "Paliokastro" area of "Chlomos," where there's a huge artificial hill, and at "Tourla," another artificial mound where a stone sarcophagus containing human bones dating back to 750 BC was found. You'll also find a prominent Frankish castle at "Pyrgos" (on the provincial road to Oinochori) and in other spots.
During the 1821 revolution, many brave Kastelliotes fought for freedom, with 13 even participating in the capture of the Salona Castle!
A Haven for Nature Lovers
Kastellia is a popular hub for hikers heading to Gkiona and Vardousia, and for hunters too. Just a few kilometers outside of Kastellia, as you climb towards Gkiona, you'll discover "Zangganas' Hani." This spot has its own unique story, set amidst a natural masterpiece of enormous plane trees and a spring with crystal-clear, icy cold water. Plus, there are delicious grilled dishes waiting to refresh every passerby and visitor looking for a few hours of peace and natural beauty.
And for those who love the thrill of the chase, Kastellia sits right at the entrance of the Controlled Hunting Area of Parnassida.
Getting here is a breeze! We're right on the main road connecting Lamia and Amfissa. We're about 40 km from Lamia, 35 km from Amfissa, and just 185 km from Athens. A paved road winds through Kastellia, leading you to the beautiful mountain villages of our municipality, like Oinochori, Sklethro, and Kaloskopi, as well as those in the Kallieis Municipality.
Our village is proud of its modern Community-Municipal Building. Downstairs, it serves the needs of our local council, while the upstairs has been lovingly transformed into a six-room guesthouse, which will be opening its doors very soon! While many of us call Kastellia home year-round, you'll also find many of our folks living in Lamia, Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Larissa, and even abroad in places like America and Australia.
A Journey Through Time
Kastellia's story begins during the Frankish rule, when it was founded by the Frankish lord Boniface of Montferrat. That's when it got its name, too, meaning "castle" or "fortress." You can still see the ruins of the old castle at "Paliokastelli," the site of the original village. After the Greek Revolution in 1821, our ancestors moved about 7 km away and built the new village right where it stands today.
The ancient Pindos River, now known as Kifissos, gracefully flows through Kastellia, dividing it into two neighborhoods connected by a large, welcoming bridge.
Life in the Village
Our community thrives on its traditions! The locals are involved in animal husbandry, cultivating tobacco, growing delicious vegetables and cereals, and tending to olive and grapevines. The tobacco plantations and orchards are lovingly irrigated by the Kifissos (Pindos) River, thanks to a 7 km concrete canal.
Our main church is the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, standing proudly in the village square, shaded by cool, tall plane trees. You'll also find many charming chapels: Agios Athanasios in "Chlomo," Agios Athanasios in "Evangelistria," Agios Nikolaos, Panagia in the Cemetery, Agios Nektarios, Agios Georgios in "Barouka," and the countryside chapels of Agios Athanasios on the slopes of Gkiona, as well as Agios Georgios and Agios Ioannis, nestled among dense oak forests a little way out of the village.
Echoes of the Past
Kastellia boasts a rich history, stretching back to ancient times! While archaeological activity and systematic research have been limited, there's no doubt that much more remains to be discovered. Above the cemetery, on the slope of Agios Vasileios, you can still see the ruins of an acropolis with an isodomic wall and massive limestone blocks. This was once the ancient Doric city of "Erinneos," sadly destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC, and now designated as an archaeological site by the Ministry of Culture. Remnants of homes and acropolises are scattered throughout the area, like in the "Paliokastro" area of "Chlomos," where there's a huge artificial hill, and at "Tourla," another artificial mound where a stone sarcophagus containing human bones dating back to 750 BC was found. You'll also find a prominent Frankish castle at "Pyrgos" (on the provincial road to Oinochori) and in other spots.
During the 1821 revolution, many brave Kastelliotes fought for freedom, with 13 even participating in the capture of the Salona Castle!
A Haven for Nature Lovers
Kastellia is a popular hub for hikers heading to Gkiona and Vardousia, and for hunters too. Just a few kilometers outside of Kastellia, as you climb towards Gkiona, you'll discover "Zangganas' Hani." This spot has its own unique story, set amidst a natural masterpiece of enormous plane trees and a spring with crystal-clear, icy cold water. Plus, there are delicious grilled dishes waiting to refresh every passerby and visitor looking for a few hours of peace and natural beauty.
And for those who love the thrill of the chase, Kastellia sits right at the entrance of the Controlled Hunting Area of Parnassida.
➯ Περισσοτερες πληροφοριες - Kastellia
Απόσταση: 4,1 klm.
