Lagkadia and Kalavryta Greece

Just spend some time on the internet.... Both of these villages are in the Pelopponse ... I just now googledand got a wealth of information, basic link are below. What is even better -- you can use this very R Steves Forum page. Look up top -- you will see a word SEARCH -- you type in something an Voila!! here is what I got::

https://search.ricksteves.com/?query=Kalavryta+GReece&button=
It gives the Steves Tour description and then entries from NINE FOrum threads about both towns ...

LAGKADIA -- I just went to google & put in the word -- and up came this lengthy RS Forum Thread from 2018 all about the town: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/lagkadia-greece

KALAVRYTA - Here's the Wikipedia entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalavryta One clue to its inclusion is in that entry -- its the southern end of a wellknown scenic mountain railway (between Diakopto-Kalavryta)... and I've read about some adventurous tourists who want to go on that. It may be that the tour is simply passing through the town, and the print itinerary includes it, to puff up the total of places seen.

Something a Rick tour may not want to dwell on is famous/infamous in Greece -- on of the most horrific Nazi war crimes of WW II -- the extermination of its male population & destruction of the town in 1943 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalavryta_massacre ... Driving in back roads in Western Crete, I have come across villages with memorials to similar atrocities. But I've never heard of tours going to visit these place.

Anyway, google is your friend ... if you just put in the names, you'll get complete map of each area.

I would add that after some research, the town of Kalavryta was also a key location during the Greek War of Independence. More specifically, the nearby Monastery of Agia Lavra is famous for being the starting point of the Greek War of Independence in 1821 against the Ottoman invasion.

Monastery of Agia Lavra: https://www.monastiria.gr/monastery-of-agia-lavra-kalavrita/?lang=en

https://maps.app.goo.gl/G143KGZa5uYV8JY58

There is a monument not far from the town: "Memorial Column for the Fighters of the Greek War of Independence."

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aGY6SxWJzWDXWRpz9

I have never been there, unlike Otto of Tournay, a French crusader who built a castle there during the XII century , of which only a few ruins remain.

https://www.kastra.eu/castleen.php?kastro=kalavryta

So, with a little time and an interest in history, there's plenty to keep you busy in Kalavryta.

tip: on Wikipedia, always choose the Greek version, which is much more complete and informative, and translate it into English.

THank you, Jo-Lui! I didn't realize that ... one can learn much more.

Having looked at the dining options in Lagkadia, my choice would be the tavern "To Tsiahtai".

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cpfq1VmVGFNbgaqaA

Looks like they have "Psanorefi gemisto", a fish stuffed with tomatoes, onions, and peppers and topped with melted cheese, and there are also huge portions of meat

It's worth a try!

What a coincidence!

I've been researching a trip to Achaea region of the Peloponnese which is the northern part of the land mass. The area includes Kalavryta.

Most people stay along the coast where a lot of development has taken place but if you want the "real" Achea head inland up into the mountains.

There are little visited villages, archeological/historic sites, scenery, back roads and lots more.

Kalavryta is the destination of the Cog Railway from Diakopta that is suppose to be one of the most scenic train rides in all of Europe.

Unfortunately it was also one of the worse atrocities of WWII committed by the Germans in reprisal of Greek Resistance Fighters who killed a number of German soldiers. Very horrible and tragic accounts are available on line.

However the village has rebounded and his a lovely place to visit or even stay.

Lagkadia is a bit further away from Kalavryta so would be interested in how the tour works out.

Here's a great website for more info on Kalavryta and surrounding area:

https://discoverkalavrita.gr/?lang=en

It’s been over 10 years since we did this tour but the memories are vivid, especially for Kalavryta. We had a guided tour that described in detail the Nazi retribution and I think for all of us to be there and visualize what was done to the inhabitants set a somber tone for the group. I don’t recall much about the town being a tourist destination unless you have guide, which may be why he doesn’t include it in the guidebook. In Lagkadia, we had a group dinner at the hotel, so we didn’t have need for restaurant recommendations. A group of us walked around the shops and a lovely gentleman gave us a tasting. I don’t remember what we were tasting, but he didn’t speak any English and really wanted to share what he had, so that was touching. Again this was over 10 years ago and things have probably changed to some extent.

Hi, we did the same Greece tour in May and you will love it! The two towns you mentioned are nice but the stays are very short so don’t worry. Lagkadia is a beautiful mountain town and you will love the hotel. There will be a group dinner in town and if you have the lamb, it will be the best lamb you’ve ever tasted! Kalavrytra is a short visit and you go there to take the train up the hills to the next point. Thus, the main highlight of this town will be the train ride.

Have fun!

Thank you everyone! This is our second tour with Rick Steves and we are so excited! Our first trip, 21 days in Italy, was fabulous and we are expecting a similar experience in Greece! We added a day to the beginning (we had flight issues on the first trip, so better safe than sorry) and a few days in Mykonos on the end of this trip.