Loutraki Corinthia – Greece

Loutraki Greece My little town. Home sweet home.

Loutraki Harbour Greece. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

Loutraki Spa Greece. Courtesy of Loutraki Spa gr

The history of Loutraki

Back in ancient Greece Loutraki was known as Thermai Artemis, which found fame through its natural, therapeutic thermal springs.

Loutraki Thermal Spring Greece

 

Mythology has it that, Artemis (Diana), goddess of forests and hills, while travelling through ancient Greece, made a stop in this mystical place.

 

Diana (Artemis) and Nymphs Bathing. Paul Emil Jacobs (1802-1866).

Artemis was so enchanted by Loutraki (Thermai), with its beauty, the bright sunshine, the landscape, and the hot natural water in which she bathed, that she invited her twin brother, Apollo, who was so mesmerized by this magical place that he couldn’t wait to tell the Gods of Mount Olympus all about it.

The Gods just had to come and see what all the fuss was about, from that moment onwards, it became their favourite city, which they named Thermai Artemis after the goddess Artemis.

Apollo Served by the Nymphs.  Francois Girardon (1628-1715)
Photo courtesy of Masterfile

Today, this little piece of paradise is called Loutraki, translated into English as “small bath”.

Thanks to an announcement in Italy, in 1847, which took the world by storm, stating how therapeutic it was to bathe in thermal waters; thermal spas became the trend, and modern day Loutraki was firmly on the map!

 Below are just two fabuolos vintage, Greek tavel posters, taken from a post I created showing 50 of the Most Beautiful Vintage Travel Posters of Greece.

Vintage French travel poster for Loutraki Greece

Vintage travel poster for Loutraki Greece

Something else which firmly put Loutraki on the map is one of the largest casinos in Europe and its adjoining hotel:

 ‘Club Hotel Casino Loutraki’

 

Casino Loutraki, Greece, One of the largest in Loutraki. Photo courtesy of Hellas Yachting

Loutraki is quite a modern town, although, there are a few examples of classical Greek architecture.

Park Irene

After being destroyed by an earthquake in 1928 Loutraki
was completely rebuilt with rubble from the destroyed buildings, being used to create what is now, a lush, green park: Park Irene, on land reclaimed from the sea.

Park Irene Loutraki Greece. Photo Greeker than the Greeks

A passion for backgammon..Tavli Kolonaki cafe and bar, opposite Park Irene Loutraki Greece. Photo Greeker than the Greeks

Loutraki has something for everyone whatever the time of year; spring is especially beautiful.

Spring in Loutraki, almond blossom seen through my window, Loutraki. Photo Greeker than the Greeks

In the spring, trees have their new leaves, bougainvillea is a riot of colour, trailing its branches over garden walls, and the air is thick with the intoxicating smell of jasmine and honeysuckle.

Butterfly on bougainvillea, In my Garden Loutraki Greece
Photo Greeker than the Greeks

At Easter time, the main Greek celebration of the year; bakeries display traditional Greek Easter bread; tsoureki, and Easter cookies; koulouria, it’s difficult to resist trying them!

On Easter Sunday, the tantalizing smell of roast lamb hanging in the air, will send you rushing to the nearest taverna!

 Beautiful beaches

Come summer, enjoy swimming, along the inviting four kilometers of beaches, stretching from one end of the town to the other.

Since 1987, and every year since, Loutraki has been awarded with the blue flag, from Europe, for clean seas and beaches.

Lake Vouliagmeni, Loutraki Greece. Photo by Vasillis Protopapas

Milokopi beach near Loutraki Greece

Schinos beach near Loutraki Greece

 

Busy on Loutraki beach, Greece!

 

Loutraki beach, Greece. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

 

If you love sport, try out some water fun in the form of water skiing, windsurfing and sailing.

 

Windsurfing in Loutraki Greece with Extremers Base. Photo Panos Mavropanos for Volta sto Loutraki

 

Outdoor summer  Cinema Electra, Loutraki Greece.

 

As summer fades and autumn begins, the crowds have departed, leaving you to enjoy the balmy, warm, September days, on quiet beaches, or to take walks along the Gerania Mountain.

Outdoor summer  Cinema Electra, Loutraki Greece.

Take time to stroll around the town, buy some of the delicious, pure and natural, local Greek honey, aromatic dried herbs, olives, golden olive oil, wine or ouzo (the national Greek drink) the choice is endless.

 Take them home as unique gifts for family and friends and of course, keep some for yourself, to remind you, of what a wonderful time you had in Loutraki.

Sunset in Loutraki Greece Photo taken from Maistrali Taverna by Greeker than the Greeks

As the chillier days begin, sometimes not until the end of November, the olive pickers are to be seen in the olive groves surrounding Loutraki, bringing in the olives, to be taken to the presses, where they are transformed into wonderful Greek olive oil.

The olive trees are then pruned, discarded branches burnt; filling the air with the pungent smell of wood smoke.

 

Olive groves. Looking over the bay of Loutraki from Agia Kyriaki Church.
Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

What could be better on these chilly days, than to sit, warm and snug, in one of the many restaurants and tavernas, in front of a roaring log fire, sampling the hearty Greek traditional dishes and warming soups, along with local wine?

More than welcoming, if you have been on one of the organised hikes, or mountain biking along the spectacular Gerania Mountain!

And yes is the answer to a question I am often asked; Does it snow in Greece?

 

Snow in my garden, Loutraki Greece, Photo Greeker than the Greeks

Nowhere, in Greece is ever very far from interesting, ancient ruins, telling the stories of thousands of years of ancient Greek culture.

Loutraki is no exception.

Loutraki nestles at the foot of the Gerania Mountains, one of the most splendid mountain ranges of the Peloponnese.

 Here on the mountain is the tiny village of Perahora, meaning “The land beyond”

Lake Vouliagmeni, Loutraki Greece, Photo Greeker than the Greeks

Agios Nikolaos Church, Lake Vouliagmeni Loutraki, Greece. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

 

The area surrounding the village of Perahora is unspoilt, natural beauty, Blue Lake, called Lake Vouliagmeni by the locals, a salt water lake, is situated here.

A little further along the road are the ancient ruins of the Ancient Sanctuary of Heraion of Perachora, where, in ancient times, a temple was dedicated to Hera Greek goddess of Women, marriage, childbirth, children and family

 

Ancient archaeological site Heraion of Perahora, Loutraki Greece
Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

Melagavi Lighthouse Heraion, Loutraki Greece. Photo by Greeker than theGreeks

Loutraki Greece. Photo Greeker than the Greeks

Looking down onto Loutraki from Osios Patapios, Loutraki, Greece. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

The Monastery of Osios Patapios, also on the Gerania Mountain, houses the relics of Patapios and is inhabited by kind, friendly nuns, who always make you feel extremely welcome.

 

The monastery of Osios Patapios, Loutraki, Greece, Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

When you visit the Monastery, the nuns usually offer you Greek coffee and Turkish delight, then they will show you into a wonderful, mysterious cave, where the relics are kept.

The town of modern Corinth, reached by crossing the amazing Corinth canal, a man made wonder, is eight kilometres to the west of Loutraki, a bustling, busy town.

A short drive from ‘New Corinth’ is ancient Corinth, steeped in three thousand years of ancient history, a magnificent archaeological site, and the main attraction being the Temple Of Apollo. There is also an interesting museum here.

 

The Corinth Canal. Isthmus, Corinth, Greece

Temple of Apollo, Ancient Corinth Greece. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

On the hard trek to the Fortress of Ancient Corinth. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

Other ancient attractions nearby to Loutraki, which really should be visited, are the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, on the Saronic Gulf, known for its amazing acoustics and Mycenae, a place full of myths and legends, a major part of Greek civilisation.

Ancient Theater of Epidaurus GreecePhoto by tgeorgakopoulos on flickr

 

Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

Nearby to Epidaurus and Mycenae, is Nafplion, a small, Venetian style, seaside town, once, for a day, the Capital city of Greece!

Nafplion Greece. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks

After a busy day in Loutraki, sample the mouth watering Greek food, at one the many restaurants and tavernas, near the harbour, or sit at one of the beachfront cafes, and savour a cup of coffee, or a glass of ouzo, while watching the amazing sunset over the Gulf of Corinth.

Loutraki sunset Greece. Photo by Greeker than the Greeks