Discover our place!
Discover our place!
Palios Agios Athanasios or Kaimaktsalan is a traditional mountainous village with stone built houses with tiles, built according to the local Macedonian architecture. The ski centre transformed the village into a cosmopolitan winter resort and is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountain villages in Greece, with impressive restored houses turned into luxury hotels, traditional guesthouses and pensions, shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
The village of Palios Agios Athanasios is located 33 km far from the city of Edessa and very close to the ski center of Kaimaktsalan. It is built at an altitude of 1200 meters on the foothills of Mount Voras, and despite the fact that some years ago had been totally abandoned by its residents, it has become the most famous winter destination in Northern Greece.
The village was built in the late 16th century by farmers and builders who came from Epirus and in 1992 was characterised as traditional settlement. From 1995 onwards the residents who had left the village, began to return and reformed it into a winter resort and ski resort for winter sports lovers.
One of the major attractions in Palios Agios Athanasios village is the church built in late 1700. Apart from skiing there are also other activities such as hiking, horseback riding, hiking, climbing and rowing at Lake Vegoritida.
Palios Agios Athanasios or Kaimaktsalan is a traditional mountainous village with stone built houses with tiles, built according to the local Macedonian architecture. The ski centre transformed the village into a cosmopolitan winter resort and is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountain villages in Greece, with impressive restored houses turned into luxury hotels, traditional guesthouses and pensions, shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
The village of Palios Agios Athanasios is located 33 km far from the city of Edessa and very close to the ski center of Kaimaktsalan. It is built at an altitude of 1200 meters on the foothills of Mount Voras, and despite the fact that some years ago had been totally abandoned by its residents, it has become the most famous winter destination in Northern Greece.
The village was built in the late 16th century by farmers and builders who came from Epirus and in 1992 was characterised as traditional settlement. From 1995 onwards the residents who had left the village, began to return and reformed it into a winter resort and ski resort for winter sports lovers.
One of the major attractions in Palios Agios Athanasios village is the church built in late 1700. Apart from skiing there are also other activities such as hiking, horseback riding, hiking, climbing and rowing at Lake Vegoritida.
In the literally magical mountain of Kaimaktsalan, entire generations of people enjoy nature and the tranquility that it offers them no matter how many years pass.
The forest of Kaimaktsalan is an important habitat and an area of special natural beauty.
A rare feature of Bora is the existence of water bodies even at a very high altitude, as in the sources of Skopia – Kremasis, which are located at 2,400 meters.
It has even been recognized as a protected area within the framework of Natura 2000 and has joined the Corine network. The flora and fauna of the area varies and can be described as rich in species, some of which are rare. About 143 species of rare flora and 137 species of important birds have been identified on Mount Voras, which led the European Union to include the mountain in the environmental protection program.
Oaks, chestnuts, beeches, firs, pines, valleys, ravines and pastures make up the whole of Kaimaktsalan.
On Mount Voras you will meet important types of flora with rare varieties of plants and you will admire up close the remnants of pine and oak forests, while the fauna of the entire mountain is also very important.
In Kaimaktsalan lives the land turtle and several species of birds, out of at least 130 that have been observed, such as the golden eagle, the vulture and the snowy ostrich, a species of sparrow. Although a social bird, it is very wary of humans and runs away from them as soon as it senses the slightest movement. Flies, mosquitoes, butterflies, grasshoppers, seeds, fruits and weeds are part of its diet. The area is of particular importance for raptors, where 13 out of 23 species that have been observed nest, but also for woodpeckers represented in Kaimaktsalan with 9 species.
Woodpeckers build their nest in trees, have a long neck and a large head with a straight and strong beak, which they use like an ax or a drill. Their feet are made to hook onto tree trunks and their tail feathers are hard and serve as a support when they drill into the trunks to build their home.
In the literally magical mountain of Kaimaktsalan, entire generations of people enjoy nature and the tranquility that it offers them no matter how many years pass.
The forest of Kaimaktsalan is an important habitat and an area of special natural beauty.
A rare feature of Bora is the existence of water bodies even at a very high altitude, as in the sources of Skopia – Kremasis, which are located at 2,400 meters.
It has even been recognized as a protected area within the framework of Natura 2000 and has joined the Corine network. The flora and fauna of the area varies and can be described as rich in species, some of which are rare. About 143 species of rare flora and 137 species of important birds have been identified on Mount Voras, which led the European Union to include the mountain in the environmental protection program.
Oaks, chestnuts, beeches, firs, pines, valleys, ravines and pastures make up the whole of Kaimaktsalan.
On Mount Voras you will meet important types of flora with rare varieties of plants and you will admire up close the remnants of pine and oak forests, while the fauna of the entire mountain is also very important.
In Kaimaktsalan lives the land turtle and several species of birds, out of at least 130 that have been observed, such as the golden eagle, the vulture and the snowy ostrich, a species of sparrow. Although a social bird, it is very wary of humans and runs away from them as soon as it senses the slightest movement. Flies, mosquitoes, butterflies, grasshoppers, seeds, fruits and weeds are part of its diet. The area is of particular importance for raptors, where 13 out of 23 species that have been observed nest, but also for woodpeckers represented in Kaimaktsalan with 9 species.
Woodpeckers build their nest in trees, have a long neck and a large head with a straight and strong beak, which they use like an ax or a drill. Their feet are made to hook onto tree trunks and their tail feathers are hard and serve as a support when they drill into the trunks to build their home.
One of the largest and most beautiful lakes in Greece, Lake Vegoritida spreads on a plateau at an altitude of 600 meters. Fishing, sailing, tours and even swimming with a view of Kaimaktsalan in a lake, which has been a holiday center since the 60s, are just some of the activities you can indulge in by visiting Lake Vegoritida.
The Vegoritis ecosystem is particularly sensitive and can easily be led to instability. The small number of species in Begoritis proves the existence of this imbalance in its ecosystem. Its most important problem is the drop in its level.
In Lake Begoritida, 11 species of fish have been recorded, mainly Tsironi, Korigoni, Platika, Grivadi or Kyprinos, Tourna, Glini and Goulianos, while the lake is regularly enriched with other types of fish.
Also in the area of Lake Vegoritida, more than 80 species of birds nest, while a rare flora and fauna is housed on its shores.
Many of the bird species it hosts are globally threatened, such as the lagon, the silver pelican and the mallard duck.
In the heights around the lake, many species of predators nest permanently and in winter, when the rest of the lakes in the area freeze, Vegoritida, due to its size, offers shelter to thousands of aquatic animals.
Of the mammals of Vegoritis, the presence of the Otter is of outstanding importance, because it is considered a very good indicator of the purity of the waters in which it lives. Based on the Habitats Directive, Lake Vegoritida is included in the European NATURA 2000 network of protected areas.
The entire area of Vegoritita with its lakeside settlements offers great examples of our cultural heritage.
Agios Panteleimonas with its narrow streets and traditional stone-built houses, Arnissa with its panoramic view of Lake Vegoritida and Vegora with its famous apples and peaches, are ornaments on the shores of the lake and give the mark of the harmonious coexistence of man and nature .
One of the largest and most beautiful lakes in Greece, Lake Vegoritida spreads on a plateau at an altitude of 600 meters.
Fishing, sailing, tours and even swimming with a view of Kaimaktsalan in a lake, which has been a holiday center since the 60s, are just some of the activities you can indulge in by visiting Lake Vegoritida.
The hot springs of Pozar are situated just 13 km far from Loutraki and 25 km from Edessa. It is a natural spring of hot water among huge trees with a stream that descends into the gorge creating a hard sound of water and steam in the air. The resort facilities are a small spa with hotels, restaurants, swimming pools and locker rooms, offering guests high quality service.
The hot springs of Pozar are situated just 13 km far from Loutraki and 25 km from Edessa. It is a natural spring of hot water among huge trees with a stream that descends into the gorge creating a hard sound of water and steam in the air. The resort facilities are a small spa with hotels, restaurants, swimming pools and locker rooms, offering guests high quality service.
Palios Agios Athanasios (Kaimaktsalan) is 605 km from Athens and only 123 km from Thessaloniki.
From southern Greece – as a shorter route – follow the Katerini-Thess/niki highway, after Katerini take the exit to Veria. Continue on the Thessaloniki-Veria national road, and follow the signs for Alexandria – Giannitsa – Edessa.
In Edessa you will see the sign to the Kaimaktsalan Ski Center which after 33 km will lead you to Old Agios Athanasios (Kaimatsalan).
Useful Phone numbers in Palios Agios Athanasios – Kaimaktsalan
Ski Center Voras (Kaimaktsalan): 23810 32000
Health Center (Kaimaktsalan): 23810 31214
Hospital in Edessa : 23810 27441
Bus Services: 23810 23511
Palios Agios Athanasios (Kaimaktsalan) is 605 km from Athens and only 123 km from Thessaloniki.
From southern Greece – as a shorter route – follow the Katerini-Thess/niki highway, after Katerini take the exit to Veria. Continue on the Thessaloniki-Veria national road, and follow the signs for Alexandria – Giannitsa – Edessa.
In Edessa you will see the sign to the Kaimaktsalan Ski Center which after 33 km will lead you to Palios Agios Athanasios (Kaimatsalan).
Useful Phone numbers in Palios Agios Athanasios – Kaimaktsalan
Ski Center Voras (Kaimaktsalan):
Health Center (Kaimaktsalan):
23810 31214
Hospital in Edessa : 23810 27441
Bus Services: