Olympus Mountain
Mount Olympus, the highest of Greece and the richest in history. Well known from the Greek Mythology as the home of the Twelve Olympian gods. Pantheon or its modern name Mytikas, the summit of the mountain with an altitude of 2918m, was their meeting place. Their tempestuous arguments were heard by Zeus, the god of gods, sitting on his imposing throne at Stefani. From there he unleashed his thunderbolts, displaying his godly wrath. Homer, the well-known ancient Greek historian, used the variant ‘Oulumpos’, conceived of as the seat of the gods and also as a synonym of ouranos, translated as sky. Mt. Olympus was historically also known as Mount Belus, where the seat of the gods is referred to as “heavenly threshold”.
The shape of Mt. Olympus, the polymorphous and changeable beauty of its nature, the mist which covers its peaks, the low cloud that often bring storms, have filled people with awe and admiration for centuries. It is a unique feeling and energy that most of the climbers feel reaching the Muses Plateau and facing for the first time the highest peaks. The complicated geological past of the region is obvious from the vast morphology features of the deep gorges and the impressive 55 peaks above 2000m altitude. Mytikas summit is also one of the highest peaks in Europe in terms of topographic prominence.
The first successful summit climb was done back in 1913 after the liberation of North Greece from the Ottoman rule by two Swiss climbers Frédéric Boissonnas and Daniel Baud-Bovy guided by a local hunter Christos Kakkalos.
Olympus Mountain
Mount Olympus, the highest of Greece and the richest in history. Well known from the Greek Mythology as the home of the Twelve Olympian gods. Pantheon or its modern name Mytikas, the summit of the mountain with an altitude of 2918m, was their meeting place. Their tempestuous arguments were heard by Zeus, the god of gods, sitting on his imposing throne at Stefani. From there he unleashed his thunderbolts, displaying his godly wrath. Homer, the well-known ancient Greek historian, used the variant ‘Oulumpos’, conceived of as the seat of the gods and also as a synonym of ouranos, translated as sky. Mt. Olympus was historically also known as Mount Belus, where the seat of the gods is referred to as “heavenly threshold”.
The shape of Mt. Olympus, the polymorphous and changeable beauty of its nature, the mist which covers its peaks, the low cloud that often bring storms, have filled people with awe and admiration for centuries. It is a unique feeling and energy that most of the climbers feel reaching the Muses Plateau and facing for the first time the highest peaks. The complicated geological past of the region is obvious from the vast morphology features of the deep gorges and the impressive 55 peaks above 2000m altitude. Mytikas summit is also one of the highest peaks in Europe in terms of topographic prominence.
The first successful summit climb was done back in 1913 after the liberation of North Greece from the Ottoman rule by two Swiss climbers Frédéric Boissonnas and Daniel Baud-Bovy guided by a local hunter Christos Kakkalos.
Enipeas Gorge
Lying on the foothills of the mountain, Enipeas gorge is the main entrance to the mountain. Hiking through it is a captivating experience passing by emerald pools, picturesque wooden bridges, and lush greenery all around. Apart from the natural beauty, the little chapel built in the Holy Cave and the St. Dionysios monastery, located just on the side of the path towards the end at Prionia region, are good opportunities for a rest with cultural content.
Enipeas Gorge
Lying on the foothills of the mountain, Enipeas gorge is the main entrance to the mountain. Hiking through it is a captivating experience passing by emerald pools, picturesque wooden bridges, and lush greenery all around. Apart from the natural beauty, the little chapel built in the Holy Cave and the St. Dionysios monastery, located just on the side of the path towards the end at Prionia region, are good opportunities for a rest with cultural content.
The Olympus National Park
The Olympus National Park was established back in 1938 and it is the oldest in Greece and one of the first protected natural parks in Europe.
Vegitation Zones
The Olympus National Park
The Olympus National Park was established back in 1938 and it is the oldest in Greece and one of the first protected natural parks in Europe.
Vegitation Zones
Over 1700 species of plants have been recorded on Olympus and more than 160 plant taxa either belong to a protected status, are rare or endemics. Olympus is characterized by particularly high levels of endemism, as many endemic taxa of Olympus, Greece and the Balkans are found here. Specifically, 26 local endemic species have been recorded on Mount Olympus to date. These are essentially plants that are found only on Olympus and nowhere else in the world.
Over 1700 species of plants have been recorded on Olympus and more than 160 plant taxa either belong to a protected status, are rare or endemics. Olympus is characterized by particularly high levels of endemism, as many endemic taxa of Olympus, Greece and the Balkans are found here. Specifically, 26 local endemic species have been recorded on Mount Olympus to date. These are essentially plants that are found only on Olympus and nowhere else in the world.
Culture
Your guided Olympus tour can be enriched with visits on nearby places of cultural and archaeological importance.
Culture
Your guided Olympus tour can be enriched with visits on nearby places of cultural and archaeological importance.
Dion
The sacred city of the ancient Macedons, dedicated to Zeus and the Twelve Olympians. Currently here lies a unique archaeological park of 200 hectares, with the ancient town and the sacred places of worship, outside its walls. Many statues and other invaluable items are kept in the nearby Dion’s archaeological museum. Its prosperity lasted from the 5th century BC to the 5th century AD. The excavations, continuing since 1928, have revealed numerous findings of the Macedonian, the Hellenistic and the Roman period.
Dion
The sacred city of the ancient Macedons, dedicated to Zeus and the Twelve Olympians. Currently here lies a unique archaeological park of 200 hectares, with the ancient town and the sacred places of worship, outside its walls. Many statues and other invaluable items are kept in the nearby Dion’s archaeological museum. Its prosperity lasted from the 5th century BC to the 5th century AD. The excavations, continuing since 1928, have revealed numerous findings of the Macedonian, the Hellenistic and the Roman period.
St. Dionysios monastery and Holy Cave
The 16th century Monastery of Dionysios lies in Enipeas’ gorge which served as its natural fortress. The Monastery became an integral part, not only of religion but also the history, society and culture of the region. It was looted and burned by the Ottomans and in 1943 it was destroyed by the German invaders, who suspected it was a guerrilla den. Its Restoration is in progress.
St. Dionysios was living in a cave very close to the monastery, called Holy Cave, where now lies a little chapel.
St. Dionysios monastery and Holy Cave
The 16th century Monastery of Dionysios lies in Enipeas’ gorge which served as its natural fortress. The Monastery became an integral part, not only of religion but also the history, society and culture of the region. It was looted and burned by the Ottomans and in 1943 it was destroyed by the German invaders, who suspected it was a guerrilla den. Its Restoration is in progress.
St. Dionysios was living in a cave very close to the monastery, called Holy Cave, where now lies a little chapel.
