Vikos-Aoos National Park

The Vikos-Aoos National Park, also known as Zagoria, covers an area of 126 square kilometers and is located in the north of the province of Epirus in Greece. The park was founded in 1973 to protect the flora and fauna of the area. The Aoos River flows through the national park and is one of its two special highlights.

Geography

Two large gorges run through the park. The Vikos Gorge is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as it has the smallest width in relation to its greatest depth. The other gorge, the Aoos Gorge, is no less impressive, as the Aoos River has carved its way through the limestone to create the gorge.

There are many so-called arch bridges scattered throughout the national park, connecting the many small, old villages located within the national park.

Flora and fauna

The park also offers a huge variety of flora and fauna. There are over 2,500 plant species in the gorge alone. Many endangered animal species, such as brown bears, wolves, and lynxes, have also found a home here. This is mainly possible because the national park has not yet been discovered by mass tourism and all tourist activities are planned in harmony with nature.

Settlement

There are also many old stone houses and churches in the area. These were founded around 1400, when Greece was ruled by the Turks and many of the inhabitants sought refuge there. The inhabitants of the so-called Zagori villages quickly developed a flourishing long-distance trade, which led to the heyday of these villages. From the 19th century onwards, however, the villages became impoverished and were gradually abandoned as the inhabitants moved to the city where jobs were available.

Many of the stone houses are now being lovingly restored and often converted into hostels for hikers.

By car:

If you want to travel by car from Ioannina, it's easy to do so by taking the N20 towards Konitsa. You can also take the side roads to Kentriko Zagori or Monodendri. Without a car, it is difficult to reach the national park, as it is not yet particularly developed for tourism.

On foot:

There are many different hiking trails in the park that you can use to explore it.