Kato Zachlorou is a mountain village in the former province of
Kalavrita in the prefecture of Achaia. It is built at an altitude of
623 meters on the slopes of one of the mountains that surround the
gorge of the Vouraikos river. Since 1997 the village belongs
administratively to the Municipality of Kalavrita. It is the seat of
the homonymous Local community, which also includes the settlement
of Ano Zachlorou and the Monastery of Megalo Spilaio. In the 2011
census it had 38 inhabitants.
The village is crossed by the
Toothed railway Diakoptos - Kalavrita, at the station of which those
who want to visit the Monastery of the Great Cave, which is located
nearby, disembark. Around the station there are several taverns and
hostels where visitors can be accommodated. It is 10 km from
Kalavrita and 12 km from Diakopto via Odontoto.
The jewels of Zachloros are the monastery of the Great Cave and the gorge of the Vouraikos river. The gorge starts 3 km north of Zachloros, continues parallel to the river that flows out near Diakofto. It has been included in the list of Natura 2000 areas. In the part located in Zachlorou, we find wooded almost riverside vegetation. Some believe that its name comes from the strong burr... sound that its waters make. The most correct interpretation is the one that wants to come from the ancient city of Voura, which was located in the present village of Banka. The monastery of the Great Cave is stuck on a rock, in a landscape of incredible beauty. It was built during the Byzantine era, after finding an icon of the Virgin Mary, made of wax, the work of the Evangelist Loukas. The view from the monastery towards the Vouraikos gorge is unique. Do not miss, during your visit, to see the sacristy with the precious relics of the monastery, the library and the cave where the icon of the Virgin Mary was found, by Simeon and Theodoros, monks from Thessaloniki, who arrived in the area, after separate visions they both saw. A shepherdess, Euphrosyne, led them to the cave. The monastery has suffered many disasters over the centuries, but the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary managed to be saved!
It is impossible to go to Zachloros and not walk even a little parallel to the lines of Odontotos to admire the beauties of Vouraikos! The route Zachloros - Diakofto is downhill and for many the most beautiful of the gorge. Here you will meet the so-called "Meteora of Zachlorus" with its impressive rocks, while parallel to the line, you will see watchtowers and water tower bases. Another hike lasting 1.5 hours is Zachlorou – Monastery of Megalo Spileio. The path starts from the restaurant located on the metal bridge of Zachloros, turn left from Odontotos station and following the signs, you reach the asphalt. At the kiosk, continue left for 300 meters and then right and follow the road to the "Mega Spilaio" monastery.
You will reach Zachlorou via the Athens-Patras national road. After Akrata, exit the national highway at the exit for Kalavryta. Before Kalavryta, you will come across the sign for Zachlorou. You can also get to Zachlorou by Odontotos, which runs the Kalavryta-Diakofto route. Zachlorou is 10 km from Kalavryta and approximately 185 from Athens.
Zachlorou, often divided into Ano Zachlorou (Upper Zachlorou) and
Kato Zachlorou (Lower Zachlorou), is a small village and community
located in eastern Achaea, Greece, within the broader region of
Kalavryta in the Peloponnese. Situated on a mountain slope along the
left bank of the Vouraikos River, it lies near the dramatic Vouraikos
Gorge and is closely associated with the historic Mega Spileo (Megalo
Spilaio) Monastery. The village's name derives from the Slavic word
"Zagloro" or "Zagorou," meaning "behind the mountains" or "the place
behind the mountain," reflecting its secluded, elevated position. With a
modest modern population—around 112 residents in some estimates, though
the 2011 census recorded just 38 for Kato Zachlorou—the area has
historically been tied to agriculture, animal husbandry, and seasonal
migration, while today it serves as a minor tourist destination due to
its natural beauty and proximity to pilgrimage sites. Its history is
marked by periods of foreign rule, independence struggles, wartime
devastation, and post-war decline, intertwining with broader Greek
historical narratives.
Ancient and Early Medieval Periods
Little is documented about Zachlorou in ancient times, as the area does
not feature prominently in classical Greek records. The region around
Kalavryta and Achaea was part of ancient Achaia, but Zachlorou itself
likely emerged later as a settlement. During the medieval Byzantine era,
the nearby Mega Spileo Monastery—founded around 362 AD by monks Symeon
and Theodore—played a foundational role in the area's development. The
monastery, one of Greece's oldest and most significant, was rebuilt in
1285 by Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos after earlier destructions and
endured multiple fires, including a major one in 1600 that burned its
library and treasures. Zachlorou was established on lands belonging to
this monastery, underscoring its early ties to religious institutions.
Ottoman and Venetian Rule (15th–18th Centuries)
Zachlorou's
documented history begins in earnest during the Ottoman domination of
Greece, which followed the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The village
was founded by refugees or "hunted passers-by" fleeing from villages in
Epirus (specifically Zagorochoria) to the Peloponnese, seeking refuge in
the mountainous terrain during Turkish rule. Ottoman control over the
area was interrupted by Venetian incursions: first in the mid-to-late
15th century during the Ottoman-Venetian wars, and again from the late
17th century until the early 18th century, when Venice briefly
reconquered parts of the Peloponnese (known as the Morean War,
1684–1699). Under Ottoman administration, residents primarily engaged in
pastoralism and farming, with a nomadic element—villagers from Kato
Zachlorou would migrate seasonally to lower areas like Zachloritika near
Diakofto during winter, while those from Ano Zachlorou headed to Rodia
near Aigio. Access to the village was challenging, often relying on the
historic Odontotos rack railway (built in the late 19th century but
predating modern roads), which passed through the Vouraikos Gorge and
featured tunnels, enhancing connectivity to the monastery and beyond.
Greek War of Independence and 19th-Century Development (1821–1900)
Zachlorou joined the newly independent Greek state immediately after the
Greek War of Independence (1821–1830), following the declaration of
independence in 1821. The village's history during this period is
closely linked to the broader Kalavryta region, which served as a cradle
for the revolution—Kalavryta was one of the first areas to rise against
Ottoman rule, with the Mega Spileo Monastery acting as a revolutionary
headquarters and hiding place for fighters. In the post-independence
era, Zachlorou remained a rural community focused on subsistence
agriculture and livestock. The construction of the Odontotos railway in
1896, connecting Diakopto to Kalavryta through the gorge, brought some
economic activity, including opportunities for railway workers. One
notable example is a historic stone residence in the village, originally
a summer home for a family involved in railway maintenance, later
restored in modern times. Homes were predominantly stone-built until the
mid-20th century, reflecting traditional mountain architecture.
20th Century: World War II Devastation and Post-War Decline
The most
tragic chapter in Zachlorou's history occurred during World War II under
Nazi German occupation. On December 8, 1943, as part of "Operation
Kalavryta" (December 5–15, 1943)—a reprisal campaign by the 117th Jäger
Division against Greek resistance activities—both Ano and Kato Zachlorou
were completely razed by German forces. This operation, triggered by
partisan attacks on German troops, resulted in the destruction of
numerous villages in the Kalavryta province and the execution of 696
Greeks overall, as documented in secret German radiograms. In Zachlorou
specifically, 17 men were executed, with only 6 survivors. The event is
commemorated by a post-war monument to the executed civilians in the
destroyed village, part of a series of memorials maintained by the
Municipal Museum of the Kalavryta Holocaust to preserve the memory of
the atrocities.
Following WWII and the subsequent Greek Civil War
(1946–1949), Zachlorou experienced significant depopulation as residents
migrated to urban centers like Patras for better opportunities. The
population declined steadily until 1991, after which it saw a modest 20%
recovery by 2001, though many homes remain abandoned today.
Infrastructure improvements in the 1980s, including paved roads, helped
somewhat, but the village shifted toward tourism, leveraging its scenic
location near the Mega Spileo Monastery—a major pilgrimage site
attracting visitors for its religious significance and history of
resilience against fires and invasions.
Contemporary Zachlorou
(21st Century)
Today, Zachlorou remains a quiet, picturesque village
integrated into the municipality of Kalavryta. Its economy blends
remnants of traditional farming with eco-tourism, drawing hikers to the
Vouraikos Gorge trails and railway enthusiasts to the Odontotos line.
Preservation efforts, such as the restoration of historic buildings,
highlight its cultural heritage. The area's history is preserved through
memorials and museums in Kalavryta, emphasizing its role in Greece's
wartime suffering and recovery. While small in scale, Zachlorou
exemplifies the enduring spirit of rural Greek communities amid
historical upheavals.
Zachlorou, often referred to as Kato Zachlorou (Lower Zachlorou) to distinguish it from the nearby Ano Zachlorou (Upper Zachlorou), is a picturesque mountain village nestled in the rugged terrain of eastern Achaea in the Peloponnese region of Greece. This small settlement, with its stone houses and serene rural atmosphere, exemplifies the dramatic interplay between human habitation and natural landscapes in Greece's mountainous interior. Geographically, it serves as a gateway to the Vouraikos Gorge, a UNESCO-recognized geopark area known for its biodiversity and geological significance. The village's location within this gorge makes it a focal point for understanding the broader environmental dynamics of northern Peloponnese, including riverine erosion, karst formations, and Mediterranean climatic influences.
Zachlorou is positioned at approximately 38°05'42" N latitude and 22°09'45" E longitude, at an elevation of around 660 meters above sea level. It lies about 9 km northeast of Kalavryta, a larger town in the region, and 11 km south of Diakopto, a coastal village near the Gulf of Corinth. The village is roughly 20-25 km south of Diakopto overall when considering the winding paths through the gorge, and it is situated 200 km west of Athens and 100 km east of Patras. Accessibility is enhanced by the historic Diakofto–Kalavryta Railway, a narrow-gauge rack railway built in 1896 that runs directly through the village along the Vouraikos River, offering scenic rides through tunnels and bridges. Hiking trails, including parts of the international E4 path, connect Zachlorou to nearby sites like the Mega Spilaio Monastery, making it a popular starting or ending point for outdoor explorations.
The topography of Zachlorou is dominated by its placement on a steep mountain slope within the narrow Vouraikos Gorge, a 20 km-long canyon carved by the Vouraikos River. The village clings to the left (eastern) bank of the river, with elevations ranging from near river level (around 500-600 m) up to 660 m in the built areas, creating a terraced settlement pattern adapted to the rugged terrain. The gorge itself features sheer cliffs, rocky outcrops, and a mix of verdant slopes veiled in mist, contributing to a dramatic, enclosed landscape that feels isolated yet accessible. Surrounding mountains, part of the Chelmos massif (also known as Aroania Mountains), rise to over 2,000 m, providing a backdrop of forested peaks and plateaus. This area is characterized by karst landforms, including caves, sinkholes, and underground river systems, which add to the region's vertical complexity and appeal for hikers.
The Vouraikos River is the lifeblood of Zachlorou's geography, flowing directly through the village and gorge, originating from the Chelmos Mountains and emptying into the Gulf of Corinth near Diakopto. This river has shaped the landscape through millennia of erosion, creating the narrow gorge with its waterfalls, rapids, and pools. The river's flow varies seasonally, with higher volumes in winter leading to sediment transport and occasional flooding, as studied in local research. Nearby hydrological features include the Springs of Aroanios River to the south and the mythical Waters of Styx, a high-altitude spring associated with ancient Greek mythology, located higher in the Chelmos range. Lakes such as Tsivlos and Doxa, formed by landslides and natural damming, dot the broader geopark area, enhancing water retention and biodiversity.
Zachlorou lies within the Chelmos-Vouraikos Geopark, a 546 km² protected area recognized for its exceptional geological heritage. The region's bedrock consists primarily of limestones and conglomerates from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, shaped by tectonic forces, erosion, and karst processes over millions of years. The Vouraikos Gorge exemplifies fluvial erosion in a karst environment, with features like calcitic walls (gours or rimstones) forming natural lakes through water stagnation and mineral deposition. Nearby, the Cave of Lakes (about 15 km away) is a highlight, with 13 terraced underground lakes, fossils of hippopotamuses and early humans, and an explored length of nearly 2 km. The geopark's diverse formations, including alpine meadows, deep gorges, and fossil-rich sites, reflect Greece's complex tectonic history as part of the Hellenic orogeny. This makes the area a "natural geology laboratory" for studying Mediterranean geodynamics.
Zachlorou experiences a warm temperate Mediterranean climate (Csa classification), moderated by its mountainous elevation and gorge microclimate. Summers are hot and dry, with average highs around 90°F (32°C) in July and August, though the gorge's shade and mist provide cooler pockets. Winters are cooler and wetter, with lows dropping to 42°F (6°C) in January, and frequent snowfall at higher elevations (November to March), supporting nearby ski resorts in Kalavryta. Annual precipitation is higher in winter (wettest in December, around 2-3 inches monthly), totaling about 800-1,000 mm yearly, which sustains the lush vegetation. The gorge's humidity fosters a verdant environment, with mist often veiling the mountains, contrasting with drier coastal areas nearby. Extreme events, like the 2000 heatwave with temperatures over 100°F (38°C), highlight variability, but the overall climate supports agriculture such as fruit cultivation (e.g., figs and watermelons).
The geography supports high biodiversity due to the gorge's dense vegetation, including plane trees, ferns, and evergreen shrubs along the riverbanks. The area is rich in wildlife, with species like wild goats, birds of prey, and endemic plants adapted to the karst soils. Protected under national and EU laws, the geopark promotes conservation amid its mix of forests, meadows, and riparian zones.
Human elements, such as the railway and hiking paths, integrate seamlessly with the natural features, promoting geotourism. The village's stone architecture, built before the 1950s, reflects adaptation to the slope and gorge, with agriculture focusing on river-irrigated crops and dairy. Nearby attractions like the Mega Spilaio Monastery, perched on a cliff, underscore the cultural overlay on this geological canvas.
Kalavryta Police: 2610695000,
Kalavryta Hospital: 2610223812
Odontotos routes: 269202224
Megalo Spilaion Monastery: 2692023130