ECOMUSEUM OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE OF THE MOUNTAINS AREA OF RETHYMNO - CRETE
"KOURETIA ODOS"

The unique natural and cultural environment at the northwest foothills of Mount Psiloritis constitutes the developing area of the ecomuseum, which highlights the agricultural life of the mountainous region of Rethymno.
The ecomuseum comprises spaces, which can be visited and is organized by local networks that assure the promotion of the cultural inheritance of the inhabitants as well as their cultural identity with their homeland.
The concept of the eco- museum is to suggest the creation of a permanent institution with the structure of a museum and the profile of a cultural workshop, wich represents the centre of documentation, research, refinement of educational and training programmes as well as scientific suggestions for the promotion of an experiential relation with cultural inheritance.

ACTIVITIES OH THE ECOMUSEUM

• Courses of the Greek language, Minoan civilianization, Cretan culture.
• Courses of nutrition habitual in this area, Minoan flavours - Cretan cuisine, culture and promotion of agricultural produce.
• Visits to cheese dairies, oil mills, cauldrons for the distillation of raki, pottery workshops.
• Visits to monumental creations of nature (natural formations).
• Visits to archaeological sites and interesting settlements.
• Educational programmes for pupils of all three educational levels.
• Training of mountaineers - walkers, speleologists, climbers.
• Seminars - congresses - meetings - climbing - projections.
• Tours - sightseeing in the countryside.
• Mountaineering - walking - climbing - speleology.
• Contact with locals, participation in their customs and traditions.

Ancient Elefrtherna, from the book of N. Stampolidis

COULTURAL ROUTES  Travelling with Kourites

This program includes ways which teach visitors the history and the social practices of the people in the unique sites and landscapes of the Northwest Psiloreitis Mountain, being the site of the Ecomuseum KOURITIA ODOS. The Ecomuseum is a cultural laboratory that acts as a center of documentation, research, formulation and implementation of educational, scientific and training programs, to promote an experiential relationship with the cultural heritage for sustainable development.
Participants acquire comprehensive knowledge of the area, are educated in standard environmental behaviours and learn the heritage of the history and culture of the area.
In the educational team participate, in joint effort, multidisciplinary scientists - teachers, social scientists, geographers, architects, archaeologists, environmentalists, and biologists- as well as the local inhabitants.


A. The Place and its Monuments

1. Margarites - The village of ceramists

The Kouriton House - historic cultural monument from the 19th Century
Tzanakiana - rural village at the beginning of the routes of the Ecomuseum
Margarites - ancient ceramics centre, centre since the Byzantine and Venetian times, a traditional village with live social function and structures
Thematic dinner at an accredited dining place in a historic tower of the village
Tasting of homemade cakes and traditional drinks.
Starts: From 09.00 until 18.00
Prices:                                                                                                        
6-8 people 120 euro per person.         
8-16 people 100 euro per person.  
25-32 people 80 euro per person.

2. The way of Kourites

Tour - Teaching at the archaeological sites
Eleftherna - Necropolis of the Standing Stone (Orthi Petra) - Acropolis - Archaeological excavations
Arkadi Monastery - restored Memorial - Symbol of Freedom
Thematic dinner at an accredited farm in Eleftherna
Starts: From 09.00 until 18.00.
Prices:  
6-8 people 140 euro per person.            
8-16 people 120 euro per person.
25-32 people 100 euro per person.

3. The way of the Holy Caves

Visit of the cave Hermes in Melidoni
Visit of the cave of Zeus in Ideon Andron
Encounter with the domed stone structures of Psiloreitis - the Mitata
Visit of the Geophysical Park of Psiloreitis
Special dinner at an accredited traditional restaurant in Anogia
Starts: From 09.00 until 19.00 (April - October)
Prices:
6-8 people 160 euro per person.  
8-16 people 140 euro per person.  
25-32 people 130 euro per person.

4. Traditional villages

Acquaintance with the traditional villages of northwest Psiloritis
Visit and educational presentation of Margarites, Laga, Kato Tripodo, Vergiana, Stavromeno, Plevriana
Thematic dinner at a traditional cafenion in Margarites
Starts: from 09.00 until 16.00
Prices:      
6-8 people 120 euro per person. 
8-16 people 100 euro per person. 
25-32 people 80 euro per person.

5. Mourtzana
Visit of the traditional village Mourtzana with monuments since the Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman period. Hiking in the Muses' mills (duration 1 hour).
Starts: from 09.00 until 16.00
Prices:  
6-8 people 120 euro per person.           
8-16 people 100 euro per person. 
25-32 people 80 euro per person.

B. The water routes

1. Mylopotamos
Visit of the historical village of Episkopi -Mylopotamos (settlement, seat of the first Latin Bishop of Crete) -Visit of the Cathedral of St. John Theologos (13th century), on the ruins of an early Christian basilica.
Visit of the Bishop's Palace of Mylopotamos (the tower of Kyrimides) monument of preindustrial rural heritage.
 Visit of the traditional water-mill of Kyrimogiannis, visited monument of preindustrial Water Power of the Venetian rule.
 Visit of the Medieval aqueduct, nominated as an ancient monument.
Starts: from 09.00 until 16.00
Prices:     
6-8 people 120 euro per person. 
8-16 people 100 euro per person.  
25-32 people 80 euro per person.

2. Άyios Syllas
Journey to the area of Saint Sylla Damavolos,  paths, fountains, mills, traditional oven, lush vegetation and shelter to many species of birds. (Duration 3 hours)
Starts: From 09.00 until 18.00
Prices:       
6-8 people 120 euro per person.
8-16 people 100 euro per person.                                                              
25-32 people 80 euro per person.

3. Κranaios Hermes
Visit of the holy cave of Kranaios Hermes-sanctuary since Minoan time
 Visit of the river-dam (duration 3 hours).
Thematic dinner at an accredicted restaurant at the exit of the gorge.
Starts: From 09.00 until 18.00
Prices:
6-8 people 140 euro per person.
8-16 people 120 euro per person. 
25-32 people 100 euro per person.

C. HIKING
 
1. The gorge of Saint Antonios
Hiking trail through the gorge of Agios Antonios of Patsos,
Visit to the lake of the River-Dam (duration 3 hours)
Thematic dinner at an accredited restaurant at the exit of the gorge
Start from 09.00 until 18.00 (July - August).
Prices:       
6-8 people 140 euro per person.    
8-16 people 120 euro per person.                                                              
25-32 people 100 euro per person.

2. The archeological park of Eleftherna
Guiding (duration 3 hours) and teaching in the historic area of Eleftherna - From the carved tombs of the ancient quarry, the mills and the ancient bridge approaching the Necropolis of Standing Stone & the Acropolis.
Thematic dinner in a traditional place at Eleftherna
Start form 09.00 until 18.00
Prices:   
6-8 people 120 euro per person.   
8-16 people 100 euro per person.   
25-32 people 80 euro per person.

3. The path of the Noble Gardens
Marked trail by the forestry through the Laggos gorge.
Hiking trail from the cult cave of St. Onoufrios to Tripodo, to Margarites  and the cult cave of St. Anthonios (duration 2 hours).
Special dinner at an accredited traditional restaurant in Margarites
Start form 09.00 until 18.00
Prices:   
6-8 people 120 euro per person.   
8-16 people 100 euro per person.   
25-32 people 80 euro per person.

4. The route of Herbs and Myth

Hiking trail through Lagos, the Margarites Gorge, with herbs and wildflowers to the Minoan tomb of Margarites (duration 2 hours).
Themed dinner «Tastes of Psiloritis» at an accredited traditional cafe and teaching of cretan culinary practices.
Start from 09.00 until 18.00
Prices:   
6-8 people 120 euro per person.   
8-16 people 100 euro per person.   
25-32 people 80 euro per person.

D. MNOAN TASTES

The Diet is an experimental contact with the local history and cultural identity of the site, highlighting the cultural profile, an innovative element of competitiveness of places in international tourism market

1. The path of the Wine Yards

Visit of the monastery of Arkadi -Tour through the vineyards with a presentation of the culinary facilities of the monks - types of monastic architecture and development of traditional production, storage and food preparation.
Visit of an organized vineyard in Merona in the municipality of Sivritos - Teaching of wine making with wine tasting
Lunch in an agro-tourist center.
Starts form 09.00 until 18.00
Prices:       
6-8 people 160 euro per person. 
8-16 people 140 euro per person.                                                               
25-32 people 120 euro per person.

2. The route of the Psiloritis Shepherds

Climbing with pick-up cars to the Vistagiano Aori and the Mitata (the traditional stone house of the shepherds of Crete)
Visit of a traditional dairy at Kalogerou - Purchase of local cheese products.
Climbing to the Livadiotiko Aori in Psiloritis - Visit of the Mitata, the Refuge (height 1900m) -teaching of the making of cheese and traditional food from the shepherds of Psiloritis - optional mountain walk on top of Psiloritis (2 h)
Starts form 09.00 until 19.00 (June - September)
Prices: 
12-16 people 140 euro per person.                                                               
25-32 people 120 euro per person.

3. The Olive Path

Visit of Kouriton House - a historic designated villa of the 18th century - presentation of the rehabilitation project and of the objects of daily use - audiovisual material on Cretan gastronomy.
Tasting of traditional sweets and liqueurs, handmade in the house.
 Visit of the ancient Cretan olive tree (650 b.C.) at Tripodo
Visit of the village Monastiraki of Amari - Minoan excavation site (2000 b.c), center of agricultural economy.
Thematic dinner at Vistagi, a traditional village by the women of the area
Starts form 09.00 until 18.00
Prices:       
6-8 people 160 euro per person. 
8-16 people 140 euro per person.                                                               
25-32 people 120 euro per person.

Responsible for the Eco Museum: Municipality of Geropotamos: Perama Rethymno.      Phone: 003028341-22650, Fax: 003028340-22652, e-mail: perama1@otenet.gr
Seat of Eco Museum: Kouriton House, Margarites (settlement of Tzanakiana) Municipality of Geropotamos,    Phone: (Mobile: 6945722052), 003028340-92350
003028310-55828