We travel to Prespes and discover a magical aquatic world that harbors a priceless treasure of flora and fauna, islets and traditional villages that exude boundless calm and serenity.
At the northwestern borders of Greece, the Prespes are a watery paradise filled with images that defy all imagination: flat-bottomed boats appearing suddenly out of the mist, migratory birds, endless reedbeds, traditional villages, ancient settlements and Byzantine hermitages.
An indescribably captivating landscape, a remarkable ecosystem that offers the chance for an unforgettable journey into nature. In Little and Great Prespa you slow your pace, savor the landscapes and lose yourself.
Prespes: Nature takes center stage
In Prespes nature has staged a dreamlike set. Here 275 species of birds (Dalmatian pelicans, great white pelicans, etc), 1800 species of plants and trees, 45 species of mammals (bears, wolves, otters, ibex, bats, rodents, squirrels, hedgehogs, badgers, wild boar, foxes, wildcats, etc), 11 species of amphibians, 21 species of reptiles and 23 species of fish have been recorded.
Great Prespa lies at an altitude 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. The lakes are protected under the Ramsar Convention, as one of the ten Greek Wetlands of International Importance and since 1974 have been designated a National Park. In the village of Agios Germanos is the information center for the Prespa National Park, where you can learn about this rare wetland.
Agios Germanos: A village from another era
Seven kilometers from the shores of Prespes, Agios Germanos, perched at an elevation of 1000 meters on the slopes of Varnounta, 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. The entire settlement presents great architectural interest. Its stone houses, many of which were built up to World War II, are a characteristic example of local traditional architecture.
In Agios Germanos you will find guesthouses and tavernas serving fasolada, lake carp, dried tsironia and other delicacies. Do not forget to buy beans from the shops that sell local products. Those who love hiking should know that on the European trail E6, which passes through the area, are the Motsara and Potistra springs.
Agios Achilleios: The little island of the lake
Perhaps the most emblematic image of Little Prespa is the islet of Agios Achilleios, the second inhabited island on a lake in Greece, after the island of Ioannina. You will reach it via a floating footbridge 650 m. long, which was constructed in 2000. Until then access to the islet was only by boat. The homonymous settlement is built at an elevation of 853 m., within the lake. On the island you will find a traditional guesthouse and a restaurant.
On Agios Achilleios there are several Byzantine churches, the most important of which is the three-aisled Basilica of Saint Achilleios dating from the late 10th century AD. It gave the island its name and is one of the largest basilicas in Greece. The magnificent church was built by the Bulgarian tsar Samuel to house the relic of Saint Achilleios, bishop of Larissa and local saint, which the Bulgarian troops had brought from Larissa.
Psarades and hermitages
It is also worth visiting the village of Psarades, which has been declared a traditional settlement. Built in a natural fjord of the great lake it recalls an island village. From here you will take the little boat for a different journey. The boatmen offer small tours with visitors coming face to face with a wonderful sight, that of the rock paintings. Panagia Eleousa is the most important hermitage among those that exist here, with the makeshift jetty helping you step out of the boat and begin the ascent.
