Zaros village

Zaros is a picturesque small town on the southern slopes of Mount Psiloritis, approximately 46km southwest of Heraklion. The area is renowned for its abundant springs, running water and fertile valley. According to local tradition, even the name of Zaros is associated with the abundance of water.

The valley has been inhabited since antiquity. A Minoan settlement has been identified at Kourtes, while remains of the large aqueduct that supplied Roman Gortyn with water survive at several locations. The village's long relationship with water can also be seen in its old watermills, springs and picturesque Lake Votomos. Water continues to support the local economy through agriculture, bottling facilities and trout farming.

Several important religious monuments are located around Zaros, including Vrontissi Monastery, the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, Varsamonero Monastery and the hermitage of Saint Efthymios.

Zaros is also an excellent starting point for hiking. A trail beginning at Lake Votomos crosses the Gafaris Gorge and leads to the Rouvas Forest. Routes belonging to the European E4 trail cross the wider area, while the Faneromeni reservoir lies farther south.

Rouvas Wood and Gorge

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.48 (62 Votes)

The gorge of Agios Nikolaos, Gafaris or Rouvas is bounded by the peaks of Ambelakia from east and Samari from west. This is the most important gorge of Psiloritis and central Crete and took its name from the homonymous Byzantine church in the south entrance. This is an ecosystem with rich flora and fauna, smaller canyons and interesting geological formations and cliffs of rare beauty.

Zaros Lake (Votomos)

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.18 (17 Votes)

The artificial lake of Zaros or Votomos is located on the southern slopes of Psiloritis, just 1km north of Zaros and 45km southwest of Iraklion. The area was a small wetland before 1987, which was shaped in the crater of Votomos Spring. It took its current form in 1987 when the Forest Service created an artificial lake where the spring water is stored.

Faneromeni Dam Lake

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.83 (6 Votes)

The dam of Faneromeni is located 7km west of the village of Zaros and about 7km north of Tympaki. It is located in a scenic location, in a verdant valley at the southern foot of Psiloritis Mount. The artificial lake covers an area of approximately 1000 acres and has a capacity of 20 million cubic meters.

Agios Nikolaos Monastery at Zaros

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.60 (5 Votes)

The monastery of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas) is located just off the beautiful canyon Gafaris (or Rouvas), about 48km southwest of Heraklion and 3km north of Zaros village. It is situated at the point where in 1994 a great fire burnt much of the beautiful pine forest of the gorge.

Vrontissi monastery in Vorizia

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.33 (3 Votes)

Vrontissi monastery is located 49km southwest of Heraklion, near Vorizia Gorge, between the villages of Zaros and Vorizia. The area has panoramic views of Vorizia village and the plain of Messara. The monastery is dedicated to Saint Anthony and is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete.

Paliamas Olive Tree

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.18 (11 Votes)

The Monumental Olive Tree of Paliama is situated at Trypiti, near the abandoned settlement of Paliama in the Messara region. It has been declared monumental by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities because of its enormous size and the distinctive sculptural form of its trunk. Its age is estimated at approximately 3,000 years.

Shelter Samari

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.00 (4 Votes)

The mountain shelter at position Samari is located at an altitude of 1417 meters on the west side of the gorge of Agios Nikolaos. It's a single-room stone building with a wooden attic that can accommodate up to 20 climbers. It has 2 W.C., fireplace and there is a possibility for cooking. There is water available from a cistern which is not potable.

Trail Nida - Rouvas Wood

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.50 (4 Votes)

This part of the E4 European Long Distance trail connects Nida plateau to the the church of Agios Ioannis in the core of Rouvas Wood. It offers amazing views to the largest oak wood in Crete and is usually combined with the descending the amazing gorge of Gafaris, also a E4 part, which is the most important canyon in Heraklion prefecture.

Zaros

Zaros village

Also read: