Plastira Lake

The region of Plastiras Lake is located in Karditsa Prefecture, 25 km west of the city. Starting for the Lake by car from Athens you will need to cover about 340 km, and from Thessaloniki just 230 km. The route in the prefecture is mountainous and scenic, thrilling the driving lovers, with several turns and provincial network. The traveler, however, is compensated when reaches the lake edge when enjoying a landscape of incomparable beauty, habitat and wetland. The lake lies at an altitude of 1000 meters and bears the name of Nicholas Plastiras, a great military and political figure, who in 1925 conceived the idea of diverting the river Megdovas and to build a dam in the area. The idea finally materialized after his death and was completed in 1959. The lake spread in the plateau of Nevropolis creating one of the largest artificial lakes in Greece.

Around the Lake, there are fourteen villages, giving the traveler a high degree of alternative destinations and different accommodations. The Mesenikolas is the first village leaving behind Karditsa. It's built at an altitude of 700m. and famous for its wine and raki its residents offer. It is worth visiting the church of the Life Giving Fountain with murals of 1646 east of the village. Two kilometers to the north at an altitude of 800m. is the Morfovouni, hometown of Nikolaos Plastiras, with stunning views of the plain of Thessaly. The path alongside the edge of the lake our guide to the villages overlooking the lake. From the village Kerasia, the ring road leads to Krioneri, a village built next to the lake with good tourist infrastructure.

Trails lead to the forests of Krioneri with the firs, the oak, chestnut. Do not forget to visit them if you can tolerate. If you love nature, they will amaze you. The next village on the shores of the lake is the Kalyvia Pezoulas with a strong tourism development and organized outdoor areas and beaches. Street from Pezoula will lead you to Fylakti and Neraida. The village of Fylakti is at an altitude of 1200m. on the steep slopes of Mount Voutsinaki overlooking a dense forest. The road ends at Fylakti and so we turn back to Pezoula and at the junction that will lead us to Neraida at an altitude of 1120m. in an area full of chestnut trees and with magnificent views of the lake. Here you can take lots of pictures for your album. The area had been previously resort of the inhabitants of Karditsa. A small road from Neraida leads to a small ski resort at an altitude of 1550m. Then, we head for the largest and most organized tourist village in the area, Neochori, which lies on a slope and has the best view of the lake. In Neochori, it worths visiting the botanical garden that includes plants that make up the ecosystem of the region. The last stop on your journey is the dam you will find a few kilometers from Neochori and after Belokomiti. If you visit the lake be sure to see up close the dam. You will admire the beauty of the landscape and, if you want, you can complete the cycle route to the villages Moucha, Kastania, Lampero, St. Athanasius and Moschato. Lake Plastiras is an ideal destination for every season and is worth visiting to admire the colors of the Greek nature.