Pertouli: Village Culture, Hiking Trails and Ski Center

Pertouli offers several distinct highlights to consider when planning your trip: village festivals featuring traditional folk music, paths through fir forests, churches and chapels, and a ski center with three runs. Whether you are mainly interested in village culture, hiking or the winter sports facilities described here, the details below can help you plan your stay around your interests.

Village Festivals and Dates

The usual dates for village festivals in Pertouli include Agia Kyriaki on July 6 and 7, the Transfiguration of Christ on August 5 and 6, and the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on August 14 and 15. Festival events begin with a church service, at which meat, pies and dairy products are mainly served. The celebrations conclude with a festival attended by locals and traditional folk music groups.

The three date periods fall in July and August. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the festivals, check the date of the event for your chosen year. This will help you include the right days in your plans without assuming that the usual dates indicate a specific year's program.

Churches and Chapels

At the entrance to Pertouli stands the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Pertouli. It was built in the mid-20th century to a design by Dimitris Pikionis. Another landmark is the historic chapel of Agia Kyriaki: the “Crossing the Pindus I” route passes by it and climbs to the Pertouli Meadows plateau.

The small white Chapel of the Holy Apostles lies in the green countryside near Pertouli. In snowy weather, it is surrounded by snow. Together, these sites show different aspects of the local church and chapel landscape: a church at the village entrance, a historic chapel along a route and a small chapel in the countryside.

Hiking Trails and Activities Nearby

Hiking trail 222 starts at the highest point in Pertouli, near Zacharaiika, and follows a narrow, gradually ascending path through dense fir forest to Mana Gorge. The route is less than one kilometer long. At the destination, there are beautiful views, as well as opportunities for birdwatching and herb gathering. Check local conditions before hiking.

Another nearby trail also starts at the highest point of the village, near Zacharaiika. Hiking trail 221 crosses the slopes of Neraida, passes through Pertouli Forest and continues to Paliokopri. The descriptions emphasize different features: trail 222 is noted for its short distance and destination at Mana Gorge, while trail 221 is defined by its route over the Neraida slopes and through the forest to Paliokopri.

Cycling is another activity in the surrounding area: visitors can explore the Koziakas mountain massif by bike along its winding paths and forest roads. As well as the hiking trails described above, cycling tours along paths and forest roads are another activity to choose from.

Ski Center and Landscape

Pertouli Ski Center has three runs: a 1,500-meter red run, a 400-meter blue run and an 80-meter green practice slope. Their lengths clearly distinguish the three runs, while their colors indicate their respective classifications. The ski center also has a 1,170-meter two-person chairlift, a 350-meter drag lift and a 60-meter children's conveyor lift.

The ski center is set among fir trees on the Pertouli Meadows and is considered suitable for both experienced and novice skiers. Its facilities and slopes are located on the gentle flysch slopes of the Pindus and on the alluvial deposits of the Pertouli Stream. If you are planning to visit the ski center, check in advance whether it will be open on your travel dates.

Landscape in the Central Pindus

The Pertouli University Forest lies in the central Pindus region. It extends from the western slopes of Koziakas to the northeastern slopes of Boudoura, ranges from 1,150 to 2,060 meters in elevation and follows the Trikala–Aspropotamos provincial road. These geographical details refer to the University Forest and the wider landscape, not to the extent of the village.

Discover more destinations: Neokhórion, Neraïdochóri, Kastaniá, Vrontero, Pýli, Pýrra, Vlacha, Zarko

For the main travel overview: Trikala.