Messinia

Useful phones

Hotels

Recommended

Bookhotels Kastoria

Kastoria

The prefecture of Kastoria is situated in the western end of West Macedonia . It is adjacent on the north with the prefecture of Florina , on the south, east and south-east with the prefectures of Grevena and Kozani, on the south-west with the prefecture of Ioannina and on the west with Albania .

The soil of the region is mountainous and the climate is continental with cold winters and hot summers. The temperature presents great variations between winter and summer, and during winter it is often below zero so the lake waters are frozen. According to the latest census the population of Kastoria comes up to 51.934 inhabitants.

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 .

Nostimo is situated on the south-west of the region of Kastoria , in a distance of 15krn from Argos Orestikon and on an altitude of 900 meters almost.

Its soil presents mainly the Fossilised Forest , 20 million years old, with tropical and subtropical plants, according to the first findings of the professor of Palaeontology- Palaeobotanology of Athens University , Mr Velitzelos , who undertook its discovery. The main features of the Fossilised Forest are the perfect fossilisation of the tree trunks and the uniqueness of thefindings.

The palms possess an outstanding position as they are the only ones found in continental Greece, a fact that attributes a special importance to the historical evolution of the plants and the climate of the past, not only in the Greek territory but also on an international level.

All around the village exist also rare sea fossils, such as starfishes, mussels, cockles, snails, shark tooth, etc. There have also been found some animal fossils with special scientific importance, that reverse the hitherto historical data. The fossilised tooth of a huge prehistoric herb ivo rous animal is very impressive.

Weather /

A closer look

Prefecture of Kastoria

Museums of Macedonia