Location information

By Romans under Mommius, 146 B.C.

HERAION (Ancient sanctuary) LOUTRAKI-PERACHORA

History

LOUTRAKI (Town) CORINTHIA
An enchanted journey through 2,500 years of history. Loutraki and the surrounding area is living proof that classical Greek values and antiquities still have much to teach us. All it takes is the desire to explore, and eyes and mind wide open to visit these antiquities, to admire them, to learn from them. Apollo, god of the sun and well-being and Hera, mother of all the Gods, were worshipped here in temples whose ruins can still be seen today. The first written reference to the waters at Loutraki is in the «Hellenica» by the Athenian historian Xenophon (431-351 B.C.). He referred to Thermes (the ancient name of Loutraki) mentioning that Agisilaos, King of Sparta, had camped there during the Corinthian war (395-387 B.C.). His description combined with historical facts and archaeological finds undoubtedly confirm that this information refers to the city of Loutraki.
The area also known as Peraea, in other words beyond Corinth (from the Greek pera for beyond) was colonized by the Corinthians in 750 BC. There are also historical references that around 146 BC when the city passed into the control of the Romans, that General Sulla, was cured in its spa waters and thus its secrets were disseminated throughout the entire Roman world. Moreover, plenty of churches built during the Byzantine era also point to the importance of the city and its historical development throughout ages. Loutraki played a significant role during the Greek Revolution in 1821 due to its geographical position as many battles took place there. The most famous one was against Dramalis (September 25-27, 1822) where Greek troops obliterated Dramalis’ forces - a victorious battle aided the outcome of the revolution greatly: the liberation and the establishment of the Greek State.
Nowadays, the international medical community is showing a great deal of interest in Loutraki due to its waters which are considered as equals to the famous waters of Vichi, Evian and Perrier.
Twelve kilometers outside the cosmopolitan Loutraki is lied the historical village of Perahora, well known for its wine production. In antiquity, it was called "Peraea" and there are a lot of archaeological finds - the ruins of ancient Oenoe (Schinos) and the tombs of Peraea - that confirm its existence since the prehistoric era. Though, the most important finds are located in the Heraion. There are ancient sites and the temple of the goddess Hera. Magnificent finds were also brought in light in this area such as ruins of temples, samples of ceramic art, silver and golden coins, copper tools, plenty of seals as well as road traces, fountains and tanks that indicate the existence of a well developed water collective system.
Finally, Isthmia is a famous city since antiquity due to the organization of the Panellenic games, so called "Isthmian Games".

Municipality of Loutraki Perachora WebPage
• http://www.loutraki.gr/index1.htm