eTourist

Tour: Exploring the mountainous Evros

Avantas in Evros, Greece

In the north of Alexandroupolis, 10 km way of the city, the Castles of Avantas and Potamos are located just outside village of Avantas. The castle of Avantas is also called “Boz-Tepe”, from the homonymous hill that is built. A magnificent gate is preserved, with two tall towers on each side and the castle ramparts, with steps leading up to it. The ruins that are preserved in the Castle of Avantas belong to the 13th century, although there are findings from the Mycenaean period. It is estimated that the Castle of Potamos was built by the Gatelouzes, the Genoese conquerors of the area, in the 13th century, on ancient relics of the prehistoric period, with continuity during the Archaic and the first Byzantine period.
20 km northeast of Alexandroupolis, in the rural region of Nipsa village, and at the foot of the Rhodope mountain, a series of prehistoric megalithic monuments of the Early Copper Era (1050 -650 BC) was recently discovered.
A few kilometers northeast of the village is the artificial pond of Alexandroupolis and the region of Drymos. A recreation area with centuries-old plane trees and crystal clear running waters offers guests unique moments of relaxation.
Following the uphill road, visitors can reach the semi-mountainous settlement of Aesimi, built at 323 meters altitude. In Aesimi there is the Museum of the Sarakatsanian tradition- which includes unique collection of authentic material of Sarakatsanian people, such as women's, men's (e.g. fustanellas) uniforms, capes, short skirts, khaki, tiaras, trunks and many old photos 1900-1940.

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