Valtesiniko: trails, history, facilities, routes
Explore Valtesiniko
Valtesiniko is built across a small and sunny basin, among important and extensive agricultural, forestry and livestock resources. The agricultural area of the village occupies two large basins, the valley of Ela and the Valtesiniotiko Plain; in the lower zones of the communal area, vast grazing terrain can be found, while a vast forest stretches to Magouliana, Kaloneri and Kryovrysi. The wealth of these resources gave Valtesiniko a power to survive adversity, even the current hardship, especially difficult for the mountain villages.
Isolated geographically, the village acts as a self-sustaining local hub and maintains remarkable infrastructure of catering and accommodation, impressive youthful potential and strong presence of its diaspora.
General view
Valtesiniko has 10 churches, sign of social firmness at the time of its acme, with important large parish church of Agios Theodoros and Agios Georgios (with many decorative elements and ornate octagonal dome, work of craftsmen from Lagadia) and Taxiarches (1824). During this period, the village developed the art of woodcarving and - in remarkable complementarity with corresponding skills in other villages of Gortynia - specialised in temples churches and other decorative or utilitarian artifacts.
The church of Agios Georgios
A small tour in the immediate perimeter of the village can be directed to the crest of gorge of Kapsalis (or Rentzela), to the monasteries of Panagia and Agios Nicholaos. Then, continue to Valtesiniotiko Plain, where you can find a stone bridge, the chapel of Agia Marina and the ruins of an ancient temple in Agia Paraskevi, near Mygdalia. Finally, a short course to the top of Paliokastro will lead us to the medieval fortress relics that surveyed the vast valley of Ladon river.
The vast basin toward Agia Marina and Mygdalia. On the background: Three of the higher mountains of Peloponnese - Erymanthos, Chelmos, Dourdouvana
Hiking around Valtesiniko
Mt Menalon topoguide includes many routes around the village, as well as the Arcadian Shepherds Trails, a very interesting network of paths that have been used in local mountain running races, but also as hiking routes.
The Arcadian Shepherds Trails network includes either circular or one-way hikes. The most popular route of the network is the circular route Valtesiniko - Gini stream - Grias Lithari - Agia Triada - Valtesiniko Castle - Valtesiniko, which connects to the Menalon Trail.
Text and photos by T. Adamakopoulos
topoguide Greece
A guide to Mt Menalon
Mt Menalon topoguide is available for Android devices as one of the dozens of available region of Greece via the topoguide Greece application. Mt Menalon is a member of the Peloponnese group. Get the Mt Menalon guide as an in-app purchase through the app.
Mt Menalon topoguide is also available for iOS (iPhone & iPad) devices via the application Topoguide Greece. Get the Mt Menalon guide as an in-app purchase through the app, found in the Peloponnese group.
topoguide Greece offers active navigation along the trails, as well as a comprehensive guide to the geography, the nature and the culture of the area.