A few kilometers away from the shores of Prespes lies a mountain village that seems straight out of another era. Agios Germanos is one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in the area.
Seven kilometers from the shores of Prespa, Agios Germanos, perched at an altitude of 1,000 meters on the slopes of Varnountas, is a village that looks as if it has stepped out of a movie set. It is one of the three designated traditional settlements in the Regional Unit of Florina along with Psarades and Nymfaio.
Come here for quiet strolls among beautiful houses with wooden balconies and to sample distinctive flavors, but above all to explore the Prespa lakes, one of the most beautiful regions in Greece.
Agios Germanos: In the magic of Prespa
The main village, Agios Germanos, is 48 km from Florina, and is built at an elevation of 1,040 meters. The entire settlement holds great architectural interest. Its stone houses, many of which were built before World War II, are characteristic examples of the local traditional architecture.
The village owes its name to the Byzantine church of Agios Germanos (11th century), located at the center of the settlement and dedicated to the saint of the same name and Patriarch of Constantinople. It is a cross-in-square church with a dome that preserves frescoes from the 11th, 13th, and 18th centuries.
Just outside the village you will see the traditional watermill of Agios Germanos, the only one of the 20 watermills that once existed in the area and has been fully restored (Europa Nostra Award 2016 for Cultural Heritage).
In Agios Germanos you will find guesthouses and tavernas serving fasolada, lake carp, sun-dried tsironia and other delights. Dont forget to buy beans from the shops selling local products. Also here is the information center for the Prespa National Park. Those who love hiking should know that along the European trail E6, which passes through the area, are the Motsara and Potistra springs.
Prespa: Watery paradise
A watery paradise unfolds on the northwestern borders of Greece, a marvelous world that hides an invaluable treasure of flora and fauna, islets and villages that exude boundless calm and serenity. Prespa is a remarkable ecosystem offering the chance for an unforgettable nature escape. Migratory birds and water buffalo, endless reedbeds, ancient settlements, fishing villages, Byzantine hermitages, images beyond imagination. Great Prespa lies at an elevation of 850 m, has a maximum depth of 50 m and covers an area of 288 sq km, while Little Prespa covers 44 sq km.
Perhaps the most iconic image of Little Prespa is the islet of Agios Achilleios, the second inhabited island in a lake in Greece, after the island of Ioannina. A 650 m floating footbridge will bring you to the settlement of Agios Achilleios with its few residents and Byzantine churches. Standing out is the Basilica of Agios Achilleios, which dates from the late 10th century AD. It is also worth visiting the village of Psarades and taking a boat ride on Great Prespa to see the hermitages with rock paintings that hang above the lake.
