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Photo: Rosa-Maria Rinkl, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A very original old mountain village with nice restaurants.
Maries is a village on the island of Thasos in northern Greece.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
The small waterfall a few kilometres behind the village is also worth a visit. The unpaved road leading there cannot be driven on with normal rental cars; only 4WD vehicles are suitable. The somewhat strenuous hike there is constantly uphill and is only really worthwhile if the stream has a good flow of water. In midsummer, the stream is almost dry, but it is most impressive in early summer. You should wear trainers at least, as you have to climb a bit to reach the waterfall. The pools below the waterfall are a wonderful place to cool off.
Μικρός Πρίνος, also known as Micros Kasavitis
A formerly dilapidated mountain village that has been rebuilt in a touristy way. From here, there is a tortuous road leading to the Monastery "Panteleimonos ' at high altitude in the mountains. The ride and the spectacular views are more worthwhile than the visit of the monastery.
From Limenaria the road branches off behind Kalivia to Maries and Kastro. From this junction, drive 3.5 km towards Kastro and then turn left into a wide dirt road. After about 300 m you reach the first construction ruins of the former opencast mine. The landscape there has the typical rust of iron ore and forms a photogenic contrast with the green of the vegetation. The mining was discontinued in the early 1960s.
Κάστρο
In the mountainous center of the island, it used to be a dilapidated village. It has been partly rebuilt, but it's more the landscape that makes it worth going there. The environment is more impressive than the place itself. From Limenaria a winding but well-maintained road leads to the village. Two small restaurants invite the diner to linger in clean mountain air. If you want to visit the church, you get the key in the restaurant next door. At the end of the village is the former castle, from which only part of the fortification walls are preserved. On the castle grounds today stands a chapel and an ossuary. A small waterfall is located near the village and can be reached on foot or 4WD from Kastro. To get to the waterfall take the dirt track on the east side of Kastro, which is a 3-4 km journey and goes through a beautiful and pristine forest. It's most impressive to see during the spring as it tends to dry up during the summer. Alternatively you can reach the waterfall from Theologos by vehicle.
Μεγάλος Πρίνος, also known as Megalos Kasavitis
A "must-see" mountain village with old, mostly renovated houses and a very beautiful central square under plane trees with restaurants. It is delightfully cool even on the hottest summer days. Above the village lies the Chapel Agios Joannis, in a beautiful environment that can be reached via a 4 km-long dirt road.
The monastery, which is worth a visit, lies between Scala Maries and Maries. Above the monastery is the photogenic Convent Ruin of Stavronikita, which is also worth a visit. A path approximately 400 metres long leads from the monastery car park up to the ruins.