Kalavryta

Kalavryta Καλάβρυτα
Kalavryta, as seen from the memorial site.
Location
Kalavryta
Coordinates	38°2′N 22°7′E
Location within the region
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	West Greece
Regional unit:	Achaea
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Municipality
- Population:	17,602
- Area:	1,065.5 km2 (411 sq mi)
- Density:	17 /km2 (43 /sq mi)
Municipal unit
- Population:	8,580
- Area:	531.8 km2 (205 sq mi)
- Density:	16 /km2 (42 /sq mi)
Community
- Population:	1,942
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation:	758 m ­(2487 ft)
Postal:	250 01
Telephone:	26940
Auto:	ΑΧ
Website
www.depapoz.gr/site/

Kalavryta (Greek: Καλάβρυτα) is a town and a municipality in the mountainous eastcentral part of the regional unit of Achaea, Greece. The town is located on the right bank of the river Vouraikos, 24 km south of Aigio, 40 km southeast of Patras and 62 km northwest of Tripoli. Notable mountains in the municipality are Mount Erymanthos in the west and Aroania or Chelmos in the southeast. Kalavryta is the southern terminus of the Diakopto-Kalavryta Railway, built by Italian engineers between 1885 and 1895.

History

Kalavryta is famous for developments that occurred on the 21 March 1821, which ignited the Greek War of Independence. On this day the Greek flag was raised at the monastery of Agia Lavra.

Mt Chelmos near Kalavryta.

Kalavryta.

On 13 December 1943, in what is commemorated as the Massacre of Kalavryta, allegedly in retribution for the killing of 81 German soldiers captured by partisans during the Nazi occupation in World War II, German troops ordered all male residents of Kalavryta, aged 14 years and up, to gather in a field just outside the village. There, they machine-gunned down 696 of them. Only 13 survived. After that they burnt down the town before they left and the next day they burnt down the Monastery of Agia Lavra, birth place of the Greek War of Independence. Post-war, the federal Government of Germany offered gestures of atonement in the form of free school books for the high school, scholarships for orphans of the massacre and built an old peoples' home. No German commanders, (e.g. Major Ebersberger who carried out the destruction of Kalavryta; Hauptmann Dohnert who led the firing party), were ever brought to book for these events

Historical population

Year	Community	Municipality
1981	2,015	-
1991	2,111	8,306
2001	1,942	8,609

Landmarks

The memorial site.

View of the Cathedral.

The railway station.

In Kastria, in the municpal unit of Lefkasi, there is the famous cave system Spilaio ton Limnon ("Cave of the Lakes") which is filled with beautiful lakes and strange rock formations. Kalavryta has a ski centre which is located east of town, on the slopes of Chelmos. The monastery of Agia Lavra is located on a hill 4 km southwest of Kalavryta. Another famous monastery nearby is Mega Spilaio which is located 8 km northeast.

Municipality

The municipality Kalavryta was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:

• Aroania
• Kalavryta
• Lefkasi
• Paion

Subdivisions

The municipal unit of Kalavryta is divided into the following communities:

• Ano Vlasia
• Ano Lousoi
• Doumena
• Drosato
• Flampoura (Flampoura, Neochori, Ortholithi)
• Goumenissa
• Kalavryta (Kalavryta, Avlonas, Vrachni, Krastikoi, Moni Agias Lavras, Souvardo)
• Kallifoni
• Kandalos
• Kato Lousoi (Kato Lousoi, Lousiko)
• Kato Vlasia (Kato Vlasia, Menychtaiika, Metochi)
• Kato Zachlorou
• Kerpini
• Kertezi
• Korfes
• Kouteli
• Kryoneri
• Lagovouni
• Lapanagoi
• Manesi Kalavryton (Manesi, Boumpoukas)
• Mikros Pontias (Mikros Pontias, Karousi, Lompokas, Megas Pontias)
• Petsakoi (Petsakoi, Bosi)
• Plataniotissa (Plataniotissa, Digela, Spartinou)
• Priolithos
• Profitis Ilias (Profitis Ilias, Mouriki)
• Rogoi
• Sigouni (Sigouni, Lefki)
• Skepasto
• Trechlo (Trechlo, Lapatheia)
• Valta
• Vilivina

Notable persons

• Asimakis Fotilas (1761–1835) politician and revolutionary leader

See also

• List of settlements in the Achaia prefecture

External links

• Municipality of Kalavryta (Greek)
• Museum of the Sacrificed People of Kalavryta