In 1889, Charilaos Trikoupis, Greece’s Prime Minister at the time, decided to construct the rack railway. Specialized technicians from France and Italy undertook the construction of the track and it lasted seven years.
King George I was the first train passenger that took the first journey on March 10th, 1896. The purpose of the railway was to connect the region of Kalavryta to Athens and Patras since there was no other means of easy access.
The railway track is 22 km long and it connects Kalavryta and Diakopto. It has the narrowest gauge in Europe, 0,75m.
The train has an average speed of 30-40km per hour and the journey takes approximately one hour.
Due to the large inclination, the track has several toothed parts.
Half way from Diakopto to Kalavryta the train stops to Niamata, Triklia, Zachlorou and Kerpini. The journey along the Vouraikos gorge is magic. You can organize an excursion with stopovers. Visitors can, for example, stop at the Zachlorou station and walk to the imposing monastery of Mega Spilaio.
Source: www.mythicalpeloponnese.gr
Rack Railway
In 1889, Charilaos Trikoupis, Greece’s Prime Minister at the time, decided to construct the rack railway. Specialized technicians from France and Italy undertook the construction of the track and it lasted seven years. King George I was the first train passenger that took the first journey on March 10th, 1896. The purpose of the railway was to connect the region of Kalavryta to Athens and Patras... read more
Vouraikos Gorge
Vouraikos gorge starts at a distance of 3 km from the west foothills of mount Helmos and mount Panachaiko, and leads all the way to Diakopto. Vouraikos River springs from the mountains of Kalavryta and ends at the Corinthian gulf, near the beach of Diakopto. Along its way it has created a deep, unique gorge. As it runs down to the sea, it receives the waters of several streams forming small lakes... read more
Kalavryta Ski Resort
Kalavryta Ski resort is situated 14km from the town, at an altitude of 1670 to 2328 meters above sea level, on the southern side of mount Helmos. It has 8 lifts, 2 aerial (1 three-seat and 1 two-seat), 3 drag lifts (one of them double), 2 lifts for children and a recreation one. The biggest lift is 1415m long and has a height difference of 472m. The total lift capacity is 5.000 people per hour. The... read more
Lake Tsivlou
One of the few lakes in the mountainous region of the Peloponnese, lake Tsivlou is situated at an altitude of 800 m. It was formed following a landslide in 1912 when the ancient river Krathis was blocked. The small yet picturesque lake is located half way from Akrata to Zarouchla. Enjoy a picnic with view the huge branches sprouting out of its surface or chose between walking, mountain biking and off-road... read more
Ancient Theater of Aigeira
The ancient theater is situated near the town of Aigeira at an altitude of 350m above sea level offering a view to the Corinthian gulf. Its construction dates back to 280-250 Β.C. Similar to the orchestra, the koilo is hewn on natural rock and when not available the soil was cut to accommodate stone seats. During the Hellenistic period it consisted of a two storey building. A corridor divides the koilo... read more
The Carnival of Patra
Patra, the capital of the prefecture of Achaea, is without doubt a city with great history and many interesting places for one to discover during a visit. However to the majority of the people the city is best known for its Carnival, which, is, admittedly, the biggest and most impressive carnival out of the dozens that are organized in various areas in Greece. The Carnival of Patra began in the 19th... read more
