Roupes: Local Character and Rethymno Travel Destination

Roupes is in the Regional Unit of Rethymno, near Pikris and 19 kilometres southeast of Rethymno. Well-maintained houses and flower-filled courtyards shape the village’s character.

An older municipal guide lists Roupes as a stop on Route 2. If you use this route sequence for your planning, check the current route in advance.

Rethymno: Old Town and Coast

In the wider travel destination of Rethymno, the Old Town is designated as a protected historical monument and a traditional settlement. Its urban layout took shape during the Venetian period and was later modified under Turkish rule. The historic city centre lies below the Venetian fortress of Fortezza. Its protected status, architectural development and location below the fortress each offer a different point of reference for the city’s history.

The coast of the Municipality of Rethymno is characterised by a sandy beach. Rethymno Beach stretches for twelve kilometres, beginning at the historic city centre and running east to Scaleta. Its sand is fine-grained and light brown; the Venetian harbour is also part of the coastline. Thus, the regional coastal landscape features both a long beach and a historic harbour.

Museums and Archaeological History

Since 1991, the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno has been housed in a pentagonal building in front of the main entrance to Fortezza. Its exhibitions present the history of the prefecture from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The Historical and Folklore Museum of Rethymno focuses on a different subject: traditional crafts and folk art are displayed in five rooms of its permanent exhibition. The museum is housed in a 17th-century Venetian mansion.

The archaeological sites also offer perspectives of their own. The Armeni necropolis is an extensive Late Minoan cemetery where more than 220 tombs have been excavated. These are family tombs containing several deceased people; the grave goods provide information about the art, religion and social organisation of the time. The Museum of the Archaeological Site of Eleftherna is the first archaeological site museum in Crete. Its exhibitions show life in ancient Eleftherna from the late millennia of the 4th millennium BC through to the Byzantine period.

In Chromonastiri, the Military Museum is housed in a Venetian villa built in 1610 for the Clodio family. One room is devoted to the historic Battle of Crete; the museum also displays weapons dating from the Greek Revolution of 1821 to the Second World War. Chromonastiri itself is designated as a historic settlement worthy of preservation. At Arkadi Monastery, the two-aisled Church of Saint Constantine and the Transfiguration of the Saviour was built in 1587. Dating from the Venetian rule, it features elements of Renaissance architecture. After the Revolution of 1866–1869, the monastery became an eternal symbol of freedom.

Landscape, Culture and Recurring Events

The gorges in the Rethymno travel destination differ in their described features and endpoints. The Moulói Gorge includes a small river and the abandoned traditional village of Moulói, where traditional architecture, old churches and caves can be seen. It begins at Chromonastiri and ends at the village of Xiro Chorio. The Arkadi Gorge begins at Arkadi Monastery and passes through an impressive landscape to the village of Pikri, which features notable elements of Venetian architecture.

Loggerhead sea turtles nest on the sandy beach in the Arkadi municipal district, and systematic measures are taken to protect them. Diving is another activity available in the region. Rethymno also has traditional cafés serving local specialities, offering another way to experience its culture alongside its museums, architecture and landscapes.

Events also add to the cultural programme. The Rethymno Renaissance Festival takes place every summer and includes music, theatre and dance performances, as well as art exhibitions. The Rethymno Carnival is a traditional event featuring a parade organised by volunteers each year. The municipal theatre stages performances annually; check specific dates for your travel period.

Discover more destinations: Prínos, Venio, Melidoni, Agios Pavlos, Aghia Triada, Platanos, Charkia, Keramota.

For the wider travel overview: Rethymno.