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Kastanitsa is a beautiful mountain village built on the slopes of the lush green Parnonas , at an altitude of 850 meters, and is not unjustly considered one of the most picturesque traditional settlements not only in Arcadia but also of the entire Peloponnese, without however having experienced the tourist development that one would expect based on the beauty of the natural landscape and the settlement that blends harmoniously with it.
The famous chestnut feast
This is the chestnut festival, established since 1983, which takes place in Kastanitsa at the end of October and takes place in the square of the fallen Sotiriou Kouroounis at the “Mana” place (south entrance of the village).
In 2025 there will be the 41st chestnut festival in
25 and 26 October.
The chestnut feast includes not only delicacies based on the delicious chestnut of the region but also mountain tea, boiled goat, bean soup, sweets, wine and tsipouro accompanied by traditional music and dances. At the same time, recipes for food and sweets with chestnut are presented and various cultural events are held.
Aegean colour in mountainous Arcadia
Kastanitsa is built at an altitude of 850 meters, on an elongated hill dominated by the hill-castle, with an impressive view of the village. What immediately attracts the visitor’s attention are the large stone-built white houses with their grey roofs made of Malevos slate, which in some places look as if they are hanging from the rocks of the hill and down to the green gully, while in others they are hidden behind the leaves of hundreds of chestnut trees, on the slopes of the road that will lead you to the central square of the village.
It is worth walking through the narrow picturesque alleys of the village between flowered courtyards and admire the authentic architecture of the houses. It is very likely that the dominant white colour will give you the impression that you are not in a mountain village but in an Aegean settlement hundreds of kilometres away!
Its colour is due to the production of lime, for which it was particularly famous in the past. Indeed, there was a period when 30 to 40 lime kilns were in operation, continuously baking lime, whereas today only 3 or 4 traditional lime kilns are in operation.
The chestnuts
But if its colour is due to lime, its name comes naturally from chestnuts and the neighbouring chestnut tree. In the past, the chestnut harvest was close to 500 tonnes and even today the chestnut is famous and is the main product of the area, with a cultivated area of around 4 000 hectares.
In fact, on the last weekend of October, a three-day chestnut festival has been established with roots dating back to the end of the 18th century! (chestnut recipes from kastanitsa.gr)
Accommodation in Kastanitsa
We didn’t find enough accommodation to mention here, but you can look in the beautiful village of Vamvakou (birthplace of Stavros Niarchos), 26km from Kastanitsa, where you will find several excellent accommodation proposals such as
- Traditional Guesthouse Vamvakos (9.1/10, from 181 reviews, Nov 2024)
- Magnolia Traditional Stone House in Vamvakou (9.7/ 10, from 16 reviews)
- Ruga of Vamvakou Homes (9.5/10, from 145 reviews)
Of course, it is also worth seeing the beautiful Tzintzina (Polydroso) where the Prytaneio guesthouse“dominates”, 23.6km from Kastanitsa.
Access to Kastanitsa, Arcadia
Access, after the paving of the road to Agios Andreas and the sea of the Argolic Gulf, is now very easy and has contributed decisively to the exit of the village from the geographical isolation in which it was located.
So, the easiest route is probably via Argos, Astros of Kynouria and Agios Andreas at which you will find a sign for Kastanitsa.
Alternatively, you can go to Tripoli and from there head towards Sparta. After passing the village of Alepochori, after a few kilometres you will see a sign for Kastanitsa, Vourvourou and Karyes.
This route is longer and more difficult but it passes through the beautiful head village of Agios Petros and from there to Kastanitsa you will enjoy the route on the edge of the slopes of the green and beautiful Parnonas.
Mountain refuge of Parnonas
The mountain refuge of Parnonas is located in a verdant spot at 1,420 meters altitude and specifically at the place with the curious name Arnomousga. It is 16 kilometers away from Kastanitsa and it will take you about half an hour from the village.
Distance from Athens and other cities
The distance between Athens and Kastanitsa is 187 km(google maps link). From Nafplio it is 62 km. Finally, from the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia, Tripoli, Kastanitsa is 70 km via Kato Doliana and 66 km via Agios Petros.
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photos from Kastanitsa
Map of Kastanitsa
Vamvaku, Municipality of Sparta, Laconia Regional Unit, Peloponnese Region, Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian, 230 67, Greece
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