The Lake

The lake of Kastoria is the most precious treasure of the town. It is a jewel that both the visitors and the inhabitants can enjoy, as a place of recreation and as a stimulus for romanticism and reminiscence.

At the lakeshore there are enough squares and parks. In these specially formulated spaces, the visitor has the possibility to walk on the stone pavements and to admire the unique natural beauty of the lake at all seasons. Lake Orestida of Kastoria is considered morphologically the most beautiful lake of Greece and has been announced a ” Monument of Natural Beauty ” by the Ministry of Culture.

The natural basin of the lake, which is enclosed by mountains of excellent geomorphology, constitutes a unique hydrobiotope. It is a hydrotope of great importance for the aquatic but also for the birds of prey and uses as an area of reproduction, nourishment and hibernation. It maintains a rich bird fauna, which includes rare and menaced species. More specifically: Pygmy Cormorant, White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Erget, Glossy Ibis, Goosander, Marsh Harrier, Whiskered Tern, etc.

In the lake there are great quantities of various fish species, and offers the possibility for fishing, both with the traditional boats in the deep waters and with fishing rod in the lakeshores. In the lake’s waters there arefishes such as, Carps, butterflyfishes, italian bleak, northern pike, etc. Fishing is allowed almost throughout the year, except the period of the fish reproduction. You can find fishing equipment in the special shops in the town of Kastoria and Argos Orestikon.

Grammos – Aliakmonas – Vitsi

GRAMMOS
The mountains of Grammos with the springs of the river Allakmonas, constitutes an interesting destination for the visitor of Kastoria. The area of Grammos constitutes one of the most productive virgin forest complexes in Greece. The population of the area is sparse and the main activities are forestry, hunting and cattle-breeding. The area, with its excellent geomorphology and the rare flora and fauna, is an ideal placeforwalking and sightseeing.

ALIAKMONAS
In the mountains of Grammos has its sources the river Aliakmon, the longest river in Greece (297km). From the sources of the river and alongside the riverbed there is a unique hydrobiotope. The visitor may walk in an area, rich in water sources surrounded by dense forests, and admire the exquisite beauty of the ecosystem of flora and fauna.

VITSI
The mountainous complex of Vitsi with the dense beech forests, the rare fauna and flora, constitute on of the most interesting destinations of the visitor in Kastoria. The region has remained untouched by the human activity and maintains the unique beauty of the wild nature. The area, with its exquisite geomorphology and its picturesque neighbourhoods, is a great place for walking and sightseeing. Vitsi is protected on a national level as a shelter for games and constitutes an ideal biotope for the menaced species of bear.

On the mountain Vitsi and in a distance of 22 km from the city of Kastoria there is an organised ski centre. The ski centre is situated on the road that leads from Kastoria to Florina, on the north side of the village Polykerasos. The road asphalt paved and it is cleared from thesnow.

For the ski centre:
– ALTITUDE: crown, 1875 m, base 161 Om

– LIFT: 1 000m with a possibility of 850 persons per hour and a baby I ift 150m.

– TRACKS: traced in the dense forest with a common starting point and they are served from the same lift.

– SERVICES: restaurant-cafeteria, parking lot.

Activities

WALKING
At the I alkeshoresthere area I ot of parks and squares. In those specially formulated areas the visitor may walk on stone paths and admire the unique natural beautyofthe lake, atall times of the year.

In the lake, the visitor has the possibility to sightsee with two ships. The two ships that set off the one from Kastoria and the other from Mavrochori, execute sightseeing trips in the lake, where the visitor may admire the unique natural beauty of the landscape and the uniquefauna and flora.

SKIING
Skiing is one of the most famous winter sports all around the world. In Kastoria there is a ski centre on the mountain Vitsi, which is situated on the borders between the Prefecture of Kastoria and the Prefecture of Florina. At the top, where the homonymous ski centre is situated the view is unique. The ski centre of “Vitsi” in Kastoria is 22km away from the town. The road is asphalt paved, safe and it is cleared from snow:

For the ski centre:
– ALTITUDE: crown, 1875 m, base 161 Om

– LIFT: 1 000m with a possibility of 850 persons per hour and a baby I ift 150m.

– TRACKS: traced in the dense forest with a common starting point and they are served from the same lift.

– SERVICES: restaurant-cafeteria, parking lot.

FISHING
The region possesses remarkable areas of fishing waters. Fishing both with the traditional boats in the deeper waters of the lake and with a fishing rod at the lake edge or the riverbanks of Aliakmonas or its branches, is a great experience due to the natural beauty. In these waters, throughout the year, you can find lots of species such as carps, butterflyfishes, italian bleak, northern pike, priki etc.

You are not allowed to fish during the reproduction period.

ROWING
The rowing is considered one of the most important sport activities in the city of Kastoria. There are various clubs of watersports, such as the Nautical Club of Kastoria (NOK) and the Nautical Club of Mavrochori (NOM) in the Municipality of Macednoi. Panhellenic and international courses, as well as many kinds of water sports activities are realised in the lake of Kastoria.

PHOTOGRAPHY
The natural beauty of the region of Kastoria gives a lot of subjects to the photographer. The Lake, the mountains of Grammos and Vitsi, the Aliakmon river, the churches of a unique architecture, the picturesque mountain settlements, the rare flora and fauna, the beautiful routes in the forest and on the mountains are some of the areas that the amateur but also the professional photographer may use as subjects to shoot.