Ano Vrontou: Altitude, Crafts and History

Ano Vrontou lies in the Vrontous Mountains and, at an altitude of 1,060 metres, is the highest village in the Nomós Serrón. Its mountain setting gives the place a distinct landscape, while its history includes orally transmitted settlement stories, the craft of bell casting and a settlement dated to the 20th century. Further cultural and culinary points of interest can be found in the wider destination of Serres.

Local History and Bell Casting

According to orally transmitted accounts, residents of the North Aegean islands settled in the wider area around Ano Vrontou towards the end of the 18th century, mainly people from Chios and Lesbos. The reason for their settlement there is unknown. At that time, bell casting shaped Ano Vrontou as a distinctive craft. The village’s history thus brings together an orally transmitted account of settlement and a specifically identified craft.

Another clearly dated milestone is 1924: refugees of Greek origin from the Cappadocian villages of Hamidie and Karatzoren in Kayseri settled in Ano Vrontou after moving through several places in Greece. These details give the village’s history several points of reference, from the end of the 18th century to the 20th century.

Activities in the Surrounding Area

The Centre for Alternative Tourism is located 5 km outside Ano Vrontou. It has areas for trekking, mountain biking and horse riding, as well as climbing and rappelling. Other activities include a Flying Fox, a Tibetan bridge, shooting, archery and paintball. If you would like to include the centre in your plans, check the visiting and booking conditions in advance.

Culture and Cuisine in the Wider Destination of Serres

Serres has its own historical setting. The Holy Monastery of Timios Prodromos was built in 1270 and houses a museum of Byzantine art. The King’s Tower of the Acropolis, also known as the Tower of Orestes, was built around 1350 and is about 20 metres high. The Zincirli Mosque is located in the southwestern part of the city of Serres. Architecturally, it is one of the late 16th-century Ottoman buildings attributed to the school of Sinan.

The churches also reflect different historical periods: Saint George Krioneritis is a Byzantine temple dating from the end of the 13th century. The Church of Saints Theodoroi is a Byzantine building from the 5th or 6th century AD. These dates therefore span the period from early Byzantine buildings to the late 13th century.

Museums add further cultural highlights in Serres. The Sarakatsani Folklore Museum has been open since 1979 and exhibits items relating to Sarakatsani culture. The collection of the Serres Ecclesiastical Museum includes icons, silver artefacts, liturgical vestments and orphreys. At the Olive Museum in Eleonas, visitors can see an old olive mill, its machinery and 19th-century olive oil production methods.

Serres’s culinary tradition includes buffalo meat and products such as cold cuts, sausages and kavourmas. Bougatsa from Serres has also been a hallmark of the city for decades. These regional specialties add a culinary perspective to the area’s buildings and museums.

Choose Hotels to Suit Your Travel Plans

Consider whether Ano Vrontou’s altitude and local history are the main focus of your trip, or whether you would also like to explore the culture and cuisine of the wider destination of Serres. Compare specific hotel offers based on their information about location, amenities, price and availability, so your choice suits your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Ammoudiá, Draviskos, Symvoli, Mandraki, Megalochori, Eptamyloi, Neo Petritsi, Makrinítsa

View the wider travel guide: Serres.