Edessa and the springs of Aridea. Famous waterfalls of Edessa in winter. Edessa Waterfalls Cave

In December we took a short trip north to the Loutra Pozar thermal springs. On the way there, we couldn’t help but stop by to admire one of the Balkan wonders - the famous waterfalls in Edessa.

Edessa is worth devoting time to, to see the city itself and its attractions.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time, I just noted the beautiful central cathedral city, a square with a huge fancy plane tree, picturesque canals with green flowing water. There are also museums, ancient clocks, temples, mosques, ruins ancient city, quarters of the old city with traditional buildings... But the most famous attraction of Edessa is its unique waterfalls, the largest in the Balkans.

The Edessa scheme itself allows you to rise above the plane, which is processed from end to end. Wine flies use the city as a base for exploring the surrounding cellars. Edessa is considered the ancient Macedonian city of Aigai. However, they discovered the grave of the ruler Vergina.

It is believed that Samuel ruled either from Vidin or from here, David from Prespa, Moshe from Strumika and Aaron from Sredets. Finally, the city falls, Dragshan goes to Thessaloniki, but escapes, and then returns Woden to Bulgaria. After the Second Balkan War the city was again in Greece. The Bulgarian church and community centers are closed. Gradually the Bulgarian population emigrated to Bulgaria. The men leave behind. Greek refugees from Asia Minor are settled.

Waterfalls of Edessa Greece

It is not for nothing that Edessa is called the City of Waters, because it is perhaps the only city in the world where waterfalls are located very close to the city center. The vast Waterfalls Park occupies about 100 thousand square meters and is located on the edge of a cliff from which a total of 11 waterfalls flow. There are two large and attractive ones for inspection - Karanos and the so-called Double.

During World War II, Woden was under German occupation, administered by a division of the Central Bulgarian-Macedonian Committee. The Greek Civil War in the late 1940s sent large parts of the Bulgarian population to Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, but even further afield to the United States, Canada and Australia.

Currently, Edessa is one of the first Greek cities, which introduce pedestrian zones. There is not much architecture, but in Varosha you can see a museum under open air among the rebuilt factories. Apart from this there is folklore where you can see the household items they found in each of the houses in the old town.


Really broken here beautiful park, where between the murmuring large and small streams and canals grow a variety of trees - spruce, beech, fancy plane trees. There is a large cafe above the waterfalls, where we first enjoyed drinking coffee.


Woden is twin brother with Pleven, but his girls are not as beautiful as their Bulgarian bridesmaids. We spent the second September holidays this year, the ones on Independence Day, in our southern neighboring Greece. We stayed at the Paralia resort. One day we had a great trip to two places closely connected with the near and distant Bulgarian past. One of the places was on Lake Little Prespa - a place that quietly screamed with grief, and the other was the city of Edessa, not so long ago the former Bulgarian city of Voden.

The subject of the article is the water park in Edessa and two large waterfalls. Edessa today is a city in northern Greece, approximately 90 km west of Thessaloniki. The roads there change depending on where you come from. There are signs in Thessaloniki. We came from Lake Little Prespa and passed through Florina. It was interesting to see this more unknown part of today's northern Greece.


Summer terrace cafe in winter

It is believed that the waterfalls appeared at the end of the 14th century after an earthquake or some other natural disaster. Until then, the waters collected in a lake located west of the city, but at one fine moment the streams suddenly changed their direction and began to erupt from a steep cliff, forming many large and small waterfalls.

We had planned to visit the city a few years ago when we went to Ohrid, but then we were unsuccessful due to a strike by Greek customs officers who blocked the border. Much time has passed since then, and yet we have succeeded. It's not that we were committed to the idea - we just thought about it from time to time until we finally made a plan and went.

Today's greek city Edessa is the former Bulgarian city of Voden. Water flows through the city, fed by two large waterfalls. A beautiful city park was built along the waterfalls. The rocks behind one of the waterfalls formed an interesting cave.

The walk begins from the parking lot and descends along the canals to the edge of the cliff, where the seething foam of water streams breaks free with the noise of a departing train.




The park, cave and waterfalls are a very pleasant place to visit. The cave is not large, or rather, it is a public domain. It goes against one Euro ticket. There is a trail in front of the cave, part of which is just beyond the tops of the falls. This way you can stand behind the huge jet of water and enjoy the splash and the view.

Edessa consists of two parts - Upper and Lower. The park and waterfalls are located at the top. Along the way along the upper waterfall, a panorama of the Lower City opens. The constructed path, part of the city park, then descends at the base of the waterfall. The trail then leads to another waterfall.

As I understand it, this is the same Double Waterfall, the second largest after Karanos.


Water fills the pond with the stone swan decorating the park.



There is a bridge in front of the second waterfall that should be monitored, but the spray there is so powerful that watching inevitably becomes wet :) The walk is very pleasant. Also tell them that there is free parking near the waterfalls park. People forced themselves out of there.

Even on the Gulag map geographical names written with two names - Bulgarian and real. Many fruits and other agricultural products are grown in the area. The city of Edessa is very beautiful. Its buildings are not typical of Mediterranean architecture, but are somewhat more modern and close to Central European ones.

Karanos - the largest and most beautiful waterfall


Karanos Waterfall, Edessa

Karanos is a seventy-meter column of water, spectacularly falling from a steep cliff and scattering diamond water dust in the air. The sight of him evokes quiet delight and admiration for the power and beauty of nature.

Here's some more information. What do you need to pick up on a Saturday at 5 am and head off to the unknown ends of a foreign country? Some will say they need a solid dose of recklessness and a strong inner drive, others will mutter about time and money. All these people are not going anywhere. Only those who give the correct answer are needed - imagination is needed.

In addition, there is Nizhny and Upper town, which completely fascinates me. We immediately cross the border, the Greek border guards eat something and don’t want to deal with them. The highway that the Greeks are building towards Thessaloniki is a little longer than last year, but the speed limits are still so high and still absurd.


In addition, it bears the name of the very first Macedonian king, about whom the myths tell us. Once upon a time, Karanos received a prediction from an oracle that he should look for a place for a new kingdom in the vastness of Macedonia, and that he would find his kingdom where a herd of goats would lead him. Karanos set out on a campaign with his army, and in the mountains of Edessa they met a herd of these animals, which they followed. They walked under heavy rain and in pitch fog, so they entered the city unnoticed by the inhabitants and captured it without a fight. Later, in front of his army, Karanos always placed goats in the vanguard, which were supposed to bring him success and good luck.

In Greece, every road sign is a rebus. First you should quickly read it in the original, and soon after that, when it appears in Latin, check whether you were right. The intellectual part follows - to interpret the received word. It's very simple - Paleokastro - old fortress, Levkonas - something related to whiteness, Sidirokrastrou - an iron fortress, etc.

Thousands of trees around blossomed like a Renaissance painting. Everything is pink and the show is quite spectacular. Edessa appears on the horizon on a high plateau. After a few buzzing streets we head up to reveal a picturesque Greek town with narrow streets, churches and lots of cheerful people.

Karanos renamed Edessa Eges (Αιγές, which translated simply means “goats”), and made the city the first Macedonian capital, and called the inhabitants Egeadians. Famous expression "under the auspices" (υπό την αιγίδα) comes from here, since aegis (αιγίδα) simply means a shield made of goatskin. Likewise, the Karanos waterfall is under the auspices of the city of Edessa.

A tour of the city clearly shows the old part - typical Balkan houses with bay windows and high walls, as well as the new ones - low-rise Mediterranean-style buildings with flat roofs and large terraces, some quite colorful. From one intersection we have a lot of music and we run away, what's going on. It turns out our little Greek wedding. The bride's apartment is located on the third floor and is easily recognizable on the balcony, decorated with pink tulle and all sorts of fines. As he stands hesitantly in front of a small bungalow called the Tourist Centre, a sympathetic woman comes out and asks me in English if she can help me.

King Karanos expelled Midas, who ruled part of Macedonia, as well as other local rulers, and united the entire country under his control, laying the foundation for further development. After him, Perdikkas reigned; he is also sometimes called the first Macedonian king.

Now the majestic Karanos waterfall spews 5-10 cubic meters per second into the abyss, depending on the season. So that everyone can admire its power, there are comfortable steps down, and there are observation decks with benches. From any point, the slightly intimidating flow of water looks magnificent.

Realizing that we are looking for a hotel and we are from Sofia, she takes a map and points us to all the hotels, directly telling us the prices. Obviously, experience has taught her that this is the most important information about the lonely tourist and the lyrical part for the beautiful view and invisible luxury, we are not interested. After we've almost settled in for the night, we run to discover the famous waterfalls. Everywhere you go in this city, you constantly cross loud rivers, rivers and streams along small bridges, which is strange and pleasant at the same time.

The falls are in a small park where the city ends and the plateau suddenly shakes. The second does the same, but his debts are much more modest. There is a convenient staircase with observation decks, which gradually carries you down, and branches that allow you to walk under the waterfall if you want to get wet. At the edge of the plateau there is a large 10-person elevator from which you descend into the Lower Town. Now there are only farm buildings, but originally everyone lived there. After their citizens grew tired of being raided and attacked by surrounding tribes, they rose up, founding the Upper City.


Edessa Waterfalls Cave

At one of the sites there is an entrance to a small stalactite cave in the rock, a caretaker sits inside and accepts a fee for visiting - 0.50 euros per person.

The Cataractes Hotel is a building in difficult societies. At the reception, a bright Balkan story appears and offers to speak German. It's possible that the dude might know other words besides "tag-guten" and "papier." On one sheet of paper he wrote “40” and “50” and managed to explain that it was cheap without registration, and the other with it. Since they don't want us here or here, being able to stay illegally doesn't bless us. The subject understands that we are Bulgarians and refuses the German at the expense of some Bulgarian words, which makes a pleasant impression.

We reserve our rooms and go out with vague but unpleasant feelings. We turn around a familiar tourist center. Bulgarian, a professional traveler with whom we share our adventures, tells us. We get good advice- the more you ask, the better situation for you. Immediately apply the lesson - we smile again at the woman and say that the hotel is not. We suggest going to Elena, it was a suitable hotel. For 30 euros we get a double room, moderate luxury, with a view of three huge canvases and a good attitude.

The cave is small, just a few tiny halls, but the stalactites are interesting to look at.


In the depths of the cave

True, many of them are written something like “Vasya was here,” only in the Greek version. The place where there are especially many such inscriptions is called Frozen Waterfall. Judging by the fact that excursions mainly bring tourists and schoolchildren with students, it is they who leave these inscriptions.

Parking in the city, however, is not a problem. Heading towards the mountain, we pass through villages with beautiful, telling names - Megaplatanos, Piperia, Dorotea. On the horizon you see magnificent peaks covered with snow, and everything around us could hardly bloom. As soon as we cross the road, we ask the people in the villages for a clean English language, and they answer us in pure Greek, and we get along great.

On one branch there is a large restaurant called "Pantheon". Don't get confused - go left. The place is attractive and strange, a large ravine cut by a river. On one side there are parking lots and a small market. Various colored bags, sweets and compotes, were scattered mockingly at the stalls. It is quite lively, some are in swimsuit, others are getting ready to get dressed.


The cave is considered one of the rarest in Greece, since in it you can clearly understand how these very rocks from which the waterfalls fly were formed. The waters of both the Edesseos River itself, which flows through the city, and the waterfalls, descend from springs formed from the melt waters of Kaimaktsalan. These waters are rich in salts and carry dissolved limestone, which settles on the edge of the rock and its surface, and thus the rock gradually grows and moves forward. Unlike other famous waterfalls in the world, such as Niagara, which do not build up, but destroy the surface of the earth.

On the river side it has a hot waterfall, under which for half a euro you can take a dip in a naturally carved pool with twenty other connoisseurs. A little further there is a large swimming pool, around which there is a cafe. Like the rest of the Greeks, we smoothly undress the pool, and after we buy our tickets, we plunge into the warm chin. The water is clear, at a temperature of absolute comfort, and the thought of standing inside while you pick mushrooms is quite natural.

Meanwhile, part of the company that does not want direct contact with this bliss drinks coffee and looks skeptically at our beautiful watering gestures. We keep playing, we play on TV, we drink a quick 3 for 1, and we go out for real coffee. On the street, grandmothers and children only from church are well dressed. Shops and cafes are closed. In the only open, skillfully ordering pure Greek coffee. The word chemo, i.e. Greek, as Turkish coffee is called here. Apparently they don't understand me properly because the waitress brings out four great courses, just like we had at the hotel a while ago.


The most interesting thing, of course, is to walk along the stone fenced passage behind the waterfall and look at it from the inside. We didn’t go far because we didn’t want to get wet – it wasn’t summer after all.

I can imagine how great it is here in the heat, when the spray of water gives a delightful coolness, and you can then warm up and dry in the sun!


You can use the stairs to go down to the very base of the waterfalls and admire them in full beauty. In the evening the waterfalls are illuminated, it must be a truly magical sight! We didn't have time to go down, maybe next time we'll do it.


This entire mass of water is completely controlled by DEI, the Greek electricity service. These flows enable the operation of two local hydroelectric dams and are also collected on the plain into a lake that is used to irrigate fields. And by the way, I read about a striking example of the stupidity of officials: in the early 60s, this same DEI decided to build a new hydroelectric power station on the rock, and accordingly destroy the waterfalls. Residents of the city laid down their bones to prevent this blatant disgrace, and the decision was reversed.

In the video you can see and feel for yourself all the power of the water element:

The adjacent park is also very beautiful and picturesque.


Unique centuries-old trees, one of which you can even hide in:

2-3 people can fit here



Small Church of the Ascension in the park:



How to get to Edessa and the waterfalls

Of course, the most convenient way is to go by car. It is about 90 kilometers from Thessaloniki, the road is quite decent.

On public transport You can also get to Edessa on your own. The schedule of regular buses from Thessaloniki and Athens can be found on the website http://www.ktelpellas.gr/, however, it is only in Greek.

In addition, you can also get there by train. The schedule is on the official website of the Greek railway lines www.trainose.gr/.

Edessa on the map

On the way to Edessa, you can also visit the archaeological museum and the ruins of ancient Pella. From Edessa you can also go to the thermal springs of Loutra Pozar, located just 32 km away. And for lovers of mountain air and skiing, go up to ski resort Kaimaktsalan!

The waterfalls of Edessa did not always exist as they do today. At the end of the 14th century, the bulk of the water was collected in a small lowland to the west of the city. Then suddenly the water (probably following geological or weather events) decided to cross the city and fell spectacularly from the cliffs, subsequently creating many small rivers, and the lake from which it flowed disappeared. Many 17th & 18th century travelers described the image of a cliff-faced city with many waterfalls. It will be quite difficult for visitors today to understand what happened just a few decades ago when the falls were inaccessible. Some were hidden behind abundant vegetation, some were on the edge of a precipice, and it was very dangerous to make the perhaps slightly dangerous descent along steep paths to look at the waterfalls or take a couple of photos. Since 1942, the transformation of the area began and the Germans were the first to see this as a tourist benefit. Every morning, Gestapo Sergeant Fritz takes away the ID cards of passers-by in the square and gives them back only when they have completed their work at the waterfalls.
So, out of nowhere in the summer of 1942, two swimming pools and flower beds of interesting architecture appeared, fitting into the landscape. After the war, the site is transferred to the municipality, whose gardeners ensure the planting of flowers and trees. Then it happens Civil War, and the waterfalls are temporarily forgotten, except, of course, by the farmers who enjoy swimming in them. People who have never seen the sea dive into the cool green waters. In 1953, the work was completed, and a municipal restaurant called “Pisines” began operating, entertaining the residents of Edessa with waltz, tango, mambo and jazz. By the early 1960s, roads were being created so that visitors could walk safely. The exception, of course, is the decision to build another power plant, destroying part of the waterfall park and, of course, the waterfalls themselves. However, city residents began to resist this decision and after a long “struggle” they were able to preserve the waterfall park. Today the Edessa waterfalls are very famous not only in Greece but throughout the world. You can safely admire the large Carano waterfall, the water of which falls from a height of about 70 meters, a double waterfall, as well as a cave with stalactites under the rock. The area is developed and provides good conditions for visitors. An information kiosk, an open-air Water Museum and soon a 5-star hotel and other facilities are constantly operating.
On the territory there is also an old factory for processing and producing hemp ropes, which you can visit.