The Oinoi Gorge: A hiking surprise close to Athens

The dam on Marathon Lake is one of the most famous landmarks of eastern Attica. When driving along the road near the dam, you cannot resist stopping to enjoy the view of the lake and its beautiful surroundings.

You should hike the Oinoi Gorge to see the dam, an engineering feat and emblematic of its time, from a never-before-seen angle.

Most interestingly, walking along this route, you will see the Tower of Oinoi, a particularly well-preserved medieval monument from a relatively unknown period of Attica's history. It was built around 1250 under the command of Guy I de la Roche, then Duke of Athens.

The Duchy of Athens was one of the states created by the Crusaders after the capture of Constantinople in 1204, which lasted until 1456. It is thought that the purpose of the Tower's construction was to oversee the plain of Marathon.

What is certain is that the imposing building is impressive and is certainly not something one expects to encounter so close to the Greek capital. Please note that the Tower entrance is closed, and it is not recommended that you attempt to enter for security reasons.

Pyrgos is the starting point of the route that leads to the gorge. Two paths lead to it, as the sign posted 100 metres from the Tower will explain.

The left trail starts slightly uphill and is just under 4 kilometres long, while the right semi-circular trail is shorter, about two and a half kilometres, but is difficult and not particularly obvious.

Therefore, we do not recommend it to inexperienced hikers.

However, very close to the starting point and towards the side of the second path, there are two more points worth seeing.

The first is the remains of the temple of Pythian Apollo, which, in fact, now consists only of some pieces of stone and marble among wild vegetation. The second is the Church of the Holy Apostles, which is surrounded by beautiful trees and a paved amphitheatre square.

Back to the main part of the experience. After about ten minutes of following the first path, you will find yourself inside the Haradros River gorge, and the landscape will change.

Plane trees, running water (less in summer), and the sounds of frogs and butterflies hiding under the leaves of plants and trees make up the scenery. Even on a very hot day, the temperature here is noticeably more relaxed and tolerable.

As you approach the dam, its size gradually becomes apparent. At the base of the dam is a temple, a replica of the temple the Athenians built at Delphi to thank the gods for their victory at the Battle of Marathon.

We recommend a long stop at the Church of the Holy Apostles on the way back. Its amphitheatre looks like a small theatre and is ideal for resting and planning the next small or larger excursion experience.

Some tips and information for an excursion in the area

The route to the Oinoi Gorge, including the return, is just under 8 kilometres. Depending on the rest stops, you will need 3-4 hours. This route is extremely passable and recommended for beginner hikers.

The Tower of Oinois is 43 kilometres from the centre of Athens. On the Athens-Thessaloniki highway, you will take the Krioneri-Agios Stefanos exit.

The article first appeared in Travel. Translated by Paul Antonopoulos.

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