The Wildly Beautiful Kastoria Village of Gavros

Kastoria and its environs offer a wealth of experiences to every visitor. The lake offers scenery of unsurpassed beauty and first class gastronomy.Areas such as Doltso are rightly regarded as some of the most beautiful in Greece, while festivals such as Ragoutsaria attract tens of thousands of travellers every year. Gavros, like the other villages of the Korestia area, is not an obvious choice for anyone visiting the city in Western Macedonia. However, it is not to be overlooked, especially if you are a lover of history and architecture.

Korestia is a historical complex of villages in Western Macedonia, within the borders of the former prefectures of Kastoria (most of them) and Florina. Gavros, Mavrokampos, Chalara, Kraniona and some others lie in the peaceful valley of Ladopotamos. The origin of the name Korestia is the subject of various theories by Greek and Balkan scholars. What is certain is that their architectural identity is their point of reference. The traditional architecture of the villages is unique in the region of Western Macedonia. The houses are built with bricks made of red earth and straw, the earth giving them their characteristic red colour. This construction method was maintained until the mid-20th century, then abandoned. The same happened to a large extent to these particular villages during the Civil War.

In recent years, there has been a study to include the settlements of the Korestia Municipality in the protection regime of the Central Macedonian Authority for Modern Monuments. It is not a tourist place, but it is a piece of Greece that leaves a lasting impression on the visitor.