Hiking in Methana

Despite the extremely rocky terrain and the steep slopes, the peculiar morphology of the volcanic volumes, which form linear sequences of recesses - basins, valleys, ravines and plateaus - gave Methana the opportunity of relatively viable pathways.

Thus, since ancient times, settlements, water sources, plateaus, citadels and watch towers have been connected by a net of paths. These paths, in the beginning wild and rugged, were gradually shaped and stone-paved. In the heyday of the traditional economy, the paths of Methana ran down the slopes like the threads of a converging web, sending the resources of the mountain to the villages and from there to the ports and the isthmus, to be sold and exchanged.

Thanks to the rugged terrain of the peninsula, much of the old paths were not destroyed, as the modern road network was often forced to follow new routes. In the 1980s, these trails were still relatively clear and attracted the friends of the remote places. Methana gained the reputation of a little known, small hiking paradise. Among the foreign travelers who loved this paradoxical place, the German Tobias Schorr was particularly active: he helped mark the first routes and promote the area. The influence of the Swiss geologists of the Technical University of Zurich was also strong: in addition to their scientific research, they helped locals to understand the value of the place and the trails. Dozens of other Europeans, who settled in the area, contributed systematically or occasionally to the development, maintenance and promotion of the Methana trails. The contribution of Eliane Pauwels, who activated the participation of Belgian scouts, is to be mentioned. The local municipality followed closely the developments ot hiking tourism and assisted periodically. Hiking in Methana took another turn with the arrival and installation of Elias Rizos, an Athenian naval engineer who breathed new life and united the locals under the vision of reviving the old network of trails. Within a few years, the existing paths were mapped, the forgotten ones were reopened, signposts were put and a new markings was set along more than 35 km trails.

Today, in total, more than 20 routes have been mapped and they are walked relatively regularly in Methana. The routes can be organized in the following groups:

• Starting from Methana: Favieros Castle Route, Methana-Stavrologos, Methana-Throni-Mali Bardi, Methana-Mali Bardi
• Starting from Megalochori and Megalopotami: Panagitsa loop, Megalopotami-Sterna Gambrou, Megalopotami-Makrylogos, Megalochori-Stavrologos, Megalochori-Panagitsa-Makrylogos
• From Kameni Chora: Stavrologos-Kameni Chora, Kameni Chora-Volcano, Kameni Chora-Agios Andreas, Kameni Chora-Krasopanagia, Around Kameni Chora
• Eastern Methana: Stavrologos-Ogas, Stavrologos-Kounoupitsa, Agios Nikolaos-Profitis Ilias, Palia Loutra-Makrylogos-Profitis Ilias

Text and photos: T. Adamakopoulos