| June 20, 2013 |
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| Local governments
(9)
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| Municipalities' district offices |
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|  AGIOS GERMANOS (Village) PRESPES |
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Agios Germanos Community
Tel: +30 23850 51419
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Fax: +30 23850 51419
The most traditional village of the area, with houses built in the
local architectural style. The homonymous Byzantine church that formed the nucleus
of the present village dates to the beginning of the 11th c. It has very interesting
frescos painted in three different phases. Nearby, the aisle less church of Agios
Athanassios was built at the end of the 18th c. Beside the post office, there
is the Information Centre ready to help the visitors with useful information on
the area, bird watching sites, hikes and the restrictions imposed in the area.
There, one can also see permanent exhibitions about the cultural and environmental
aspects of the region. On the northeast of the village, there is the Agios Germanos
small river with falls and purling waters hosting the Trout Salmo trutta peristericus,
an endangered endemic subspecies. This species has extremeiy iow populations,
so fishing is not allowed in the area. One can also see the restored water mills
along the river. Following the paths, one can reach the impressive mixed fir-beech
forests,and the summits of Kitsevo or Despotiko (2,177m).The Sarakatsani, pastoralists
from Thessaly, have the tradition of bringing their herds to graze on these mountains
every year from May to October.
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| | ANTARTIKO (Village) PRESPES |
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| | LEMOS (Village) PRESPES |
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Lemos Community
Lemos, Presra's largest village with nearly 250 permanent inhabitants, is the
administrative centre of the area. The visitor may enjoy a splendid view of both
lakes from the hill of Ayios Ioannis with its picturesque chapel. The church of
Ayia Paraskevi, in the centre of the village was build in 1896 probably on the
site of an earlier church aw well. The church of the Ipapandi is locaded at the
south edge of the village. It dades to the 15th c according to the frescosin the
sanctuary.
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| | MIKROLIMNI (Village) PRESPES |
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Mikrolimni Community
Mikrolimni is a small riparian village, with a long fishing tradition.
At the entrance of the village stands the large stone church of Ayios Athanassios,
dating from 1908. By walking carefully along the wet meadows next to the reed
beds, or from the observation tower nearby, in the north of the village, one can
see and fhotograph the rare herons that feed in the shallow waters on frogs, snakes,
fish, insects ahd other aquatic organisms. Please keep distant from the animals
to avoid disturbing them. Setting off on foot from Mikrolimni and following a
path to the south, the visitor can reach the fabulous bay of Latsista with its
amazing view of the lake and aquatic birds. The building next to the path is the
Elliniki Etairia's Biological Station, used by scientists working in the area
in the past. After a nice walk the visitor can enjoy fresh fish at the local tavernas
near the lake.
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| | PLATY (Village) PRESPES |
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Platy Community
Tel: +30 23850 51208
One kilometer east of the village of Platy is the church of Ayios
Nikolaos, which according to the local tradition is dedicated to the Transfiguration
of the Saviour and is called Ayia Sorita. Its simple exterior contrasts strongly
with the lavishily painted interior decoration, which belongs to the end of the
16th c. Nearly Mikpi
Prespa the visitor may see the ruins of the village of Opayia, which was abandoned
before the 2nd World War due to malaria. The area limited by opayia, the Koula
site and the asphalted road, includes the most sensitive part of the National
Park core. Vromolimni ("Stinking Lake") is an internal body of water that communicates
with the waters of Mikri Presra. Here large colonies of Pelicans and Cormorants
can be found .Being such a delicate area, admission here is strictly forbidden.
The visitor can watch the birds with binoculars or telescope from the observation
post of the north, next to the road. This is one of the best places in Prespa
for bird watching in spring.
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| | PSARADES (Village) PRESPES |
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Psarades Community
Tel: +30 23850 46207
The chapel of Agios Yeorgios lies at the highest point of the road
Koula-Psarades. The place is surrounded by a stand of centenary Lunipers ( Juniperus
foetidissima and J. excelsa), unique in Europe. This is so because they grow in
an area considered holy and were therefore left undisturbed by the locals along
the centuries. This is the second nucleus of complete protection of the National
Park. In Psarades, the visitor may eat fresh fish from lakes in the local tavernas.
Fishermen can take the visitor to the blue- green beaches of the lake and its
steep rocky shores.
In these, natural and carved cavities in the rocks were places often
used as hermitages and retreats, with frescos painted on the rocks and two churches.
There is a path from Psarades one of them, the 'Metamorphosis'(Transfiguration),
which dates from the early 13th c. The other is only reachable by boat-'Panayia
Eleoussa' (The Virgin of Charity), dating to the end of the 14th c. and with remarkable
wall paintings. According to the locals, this church is dedicated to Agios Petros
(Saint Peter). Between these two monuments, is the hermitage of the Mikri Analipsi
located high up in a small cavity in the rocks, dating to the 15th c. Kape Roti
is at the end of the very nice footpath beginning from Psarades and heading north.
At this point the visitor stands before the borders with Albania and FYROM found
into the lake and above the deepest point of Lake Megali Prespa.
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| | PYLI (Village) PRESPES |
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| | VRODERO (Village) PRESPES |
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Vrodero Community
Tel: +30 23850 46132
The road to the west of Pili
leads to the ruined village of Pyxos, just before dedicated to Agia Paraskevi
is standing proudly on the hill opposite the village. Dated from 1899, it is a
typical example of the 19th c. basilicas in the Prespa, region. Located at the
very western side of Prespa, Vrodero is a village of long stock-farming tradition.
The Information Centre has exhibitions on the Animal Husbandry in the whole area
and the Forests. From Vrodero there is a path that leads south to Agathoto, which
is a ruined village on the shore of Lake Mikri
Prespa with another church dedicated to Agia Paraskevi. Nearby the path, there
is a cave, which sheltered the 'hospital' during the civil war.
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| | LEMOS (Village) PRESPES |
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