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Wine Route

Of Dionysus

Wine Roads of North Greece
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ount Paggaion, famous for its gold and silver mines, was a center of Dionysian worship in ancient times. According to Greek mythology, the god Dionysus was raised and drunk the carnivorous horses of the local king Lycurgus with local wine.

Thus, the eighth Route of the Wine Roads of North Greece starts from Mount Paggaion, Kokkinochori in the Municipality of Orfanos and passes through the city of Kavala to continue to the town of Drama, passing through Mikrochori. Then, going up to Mount Falakron, it reaches Kokkinogeia in the Municipality of Prosotsani and crosses to the west the prefecture of Serres to the rich wetland of Kerkini.

Returning to Kavala, the visitor will head east to Thrace, with the final wine destination Maronia, the beautiful village with the old mansions on the slopes of Ismaros. Along the way, the Valley of Nestos, the traditional Xanthi, Avdira, home of Democritus, the lagoon Vistonida with the natural bay of Porto Lagos and Komotini.

On the Route, coming from Thessaloniki, at about 110 km, we will first meet the famous lion and the ruins of the ancient city of Amphipolis. Then, continuing our Route along the coast, we will meet the amphitheatrically built Kavala with the famous Byzantine castle, the Walls, and the imposing aqueduct. Nearby locations, we will enjoy beautiful beaches and fresh fish in fish taverns.

The road that leads from Kavala to Drama passes through the archeological site of Philippi. Excavations at the site of the ancient city and its surroundings revealed traces of the Egnatia Road, the famous Roman market, the famous ancient theater, and many buildings. Higher up on Mount Paggaion is the Byzantine monastery of Eikosifoinitsa, with the Painted Icon of the Virgin Mary.

The city of Drama is built at the foot of Mount Falakro, which the locals call the `mountain of flowers. ` The tour of the area is ideal for those who love the mountains and the forest. They will find a ski resort and four mountain shelters, the cave of Mara with colorful stalactites and reflections, the beautiful woods of Elati. We will continue northeast, in Kokkinogeia, Drama after Prosotsani.

Then, the road goes to Thrace. Finally, it passes through Xanthi, the city with a thousand colors, with the jewel of the untouched and preserved Old Towns, where a walk in the narrow alleys and mansions that remind of its grandeur will fascinate the visitor and, of course, the new city with its modern buildings and commercial centers.

Then, it descends to the Thracian Sea and reaches Abdera, where we will meet the homonymous traditional settlement. The folklore and archeological museum and the ancient city. It continues next to Vistonida, a vast lagoon of unique beauty and world-famous as a refuge for wild birds of the Mediterranean. Finally, you can make a stop at the picturesque port of Porto Lagos and reaches the center of Thrace, in the Rhodopes with Maronia and the Homeric Ismaro – the homeland of the wine with which, according to Homer in the Odyssey, the ingenious Odysseus intoxicated the Cyclops by freeing him. and companions. Today, the vineyards of Maronia prove the effort to revive and continue an ancient winemaking tradition.

ΕΝΟΑΒΕ Διαδρομή του Διονύσου

The rest of Thrace is also of particular interest, continuing west after Maronia, the coastal Alexandroupolis, the Evros Delta, Ferres, and Soufli.

Along the way, selected hostels, restaurants, and venues for the production and distribution of local/traditional products undertake to accommodate and pamper travelers.

The visitors of the Wine Route of Dionysos apart from the wineries of the area, can visit many remarkable places, which are:

  • Amphipolis (archeological site, museum)
  • Philippi (archeological site, museum)
  • Alistrati Cave and Aggitis Gorge
  • Maara Cave
  • Falakro Ski Center
  • River Cave
  • Birch forest in Mikromilia
  • Fir forest
  • Nestos Delta
  • Porto Lagos
  • Thassos Island
  • Avdira (archeological and folklore museum, traditional settlement)
  • Archaeological site on the coast of N. Xanthi
  • Archaeological site of Maronia

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