Kroussonas: Apple Festival, Gorge and History

Kroussonas combines an annual apple festival held in September with cultural and landscape themes. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the village itself and destinations in its immediate surroundings: the festival takes place in the central square, while the gorge and Koupos Hill are outside the settlement. This lets you focus on an event date, history, traditional food or the landscape.

The September Apple Festival

The Krousónas Apple Festival takes place every year in September in the central village square (πλατεία Αγίας Τριάδας). September is the recurring seasonal reference point. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the date for the year you want to visit before booking. The square anchors the festival in the village; the gorge and Koupos, by contrast, are destinations in the immediate surroundings.

The Gorge and Archaeological Discoveries

The Krousónas Gorge, also called φαράγγι της Γαϊδουροράχης, lies about three kilometres west of Krousónas; small waterfalls form in some places. It is in the immediate surroundings, not in the settlement itself. While the waterfalls give the gorge a connection to the landscape, Koupos Hill lies south of Krousónas and is of particular archaeological interest.

In 1906, archaeologist Stefanos Xanthoudidis discovered the remains of the walls of a large settlement on Koupos, dating from either the Mycenaean or Geometric period, as well as buildings and numerous objects. The classification leaves open whether the settlement dates to the Mycenaean or Geometric period. The year of discovery and the finds give the hill a specific historical dimension, distinct from the natural feature of the nearby gorge.

Churches and Local Cuisine

In the village itself, the churches of Saint George and the Holy Trinity are of historical and archaeological interest. They offer a different cultural point of interest from the hill to the south: the churches centre on named places of worship, while Koupos is known for the discovered settlement remains, buildings and objects. This makes it possible to consider the village’s history and the archaeological discoveries in the immediate surroundings as distinct themes.

For a culinary connection, there is the women’s cooperative «Η Κρουσανιώτισσα» in Krousónas. It makes sweet dishes and meals using traditional recipes. Local produce is used as the main ingredients. This connects food with recipe traditions and regional products. For travellers who want to include traditional cuisine alongside history and landscape, this is a distinct aspect of the village.

Traditional Instruments: Foundation and Location

The «ΘΥΡΑΘΕΝ» Museum of Traditional Instruments was founded in 2012, with its base in the historic village of Krousónas. In December 2023, it opened a new public location in Heraklion. Krousónas is therefore associated with the museum’s founding story, while the later public opening took place in Heraklion. This sequence of events distinguishes the museum’s origins from its subsequent development in terms of location.

Find a Hotel to Suit Your Trip

When looking for a hotel in Kroussonas, you can first consider what will shape your stay: the September date of the apple festival, the churches and archaeological themes, traditional food or the landscape. The gorge and Koupos are in the immediate surroundings rather than in the village. This distinction in location can help with planning if you are weighing a festival-focused stay against a stronger cultural or landscape focus.

Discover more destinations: Kiparissos, Plora, Kastelli, Mathia, Psari Forada, Ano Viannos, Pentamodi, Kamilari.

For the overview of the wider area: Heraklion.