About 80% of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains and plateaus. Mostly mountains of medium height dominate: from 1200 to 1800 meters. The mountainous terrain itself is varied. Basically, all the mountains are treeless and rocky, but some of them are surrounded by greenery. The main mountain systems are as follows:

• Pindus or Pindos - occupies the center of mainland Greece, consists of several ridges, and between them there are picturesque valleys;
• the Timfri mountain range, between the peaks there are mountain lakes;
• The Rhodope Mountains or Rhodope Mountains are located between Greece and Bulgaria, they are also called the “Red Mountains”, they are quite low;
• mountain range of Olympus.

These mountain peaks are covered with greenery in places. In some there are gorges and caves.

The most famous mountains of Greece

Of course, the most popular, and at the same time the most high mountain Greece is Olympus, whose height reaches 2917 meters. It is located in the region of Thessaly and Central Macedonia. The mountain is covered with various tales and legends, and according to ancient myths, 12 olympian gods, which was worshiped by the ancient Greeks. The throne of Zeus was also here. Climbing to the top takes about 6 hours. Climbing the mountain reveals a landscape that will never be forgotten.

One of the popular mountains of ancient and modern Greeks is Mount Paranas. The sanctuary of Apollo is located here. Nearby, the site of Delphi was discovered, where the oracles met. Now it's set up here ski resort, there are places for skiing on the slopes, and cozy hotels have also been built.

Mount Taygetos rises above Sparta, the highest points being Ilias and Profitis. The mountain is popularly called “five-fingered” because the mountain has five peaks. From a distance they resemble a human hand, as if someone had put their fingers together. There are multiple paths leading to the top, so climbing up is practically not difficult.

Unlike some Greek mountains, Pelion is covered in greenery. There are many trees growing here and mountain streams flowing through. There are several dozen villages located on the slopes of the mountain.
In addition to these peaks, Greece has the following high points:

• Zmolikas;
• Nije;
• Grammos;
• Gjona;
• Vardusya;
• Lefka Ori.

Thus Greece is the third mountainous country in Europe after Norway and Albania. There are several mountain systems here. Many of them are objects that are conquered by tourists and climbers from all over the world.

Mytikas, Mount Olympus (Lisa Murray) The highest peak of Mount Olympus - 2917 m (stefg74 Mytikas Peak, Mount Olympus (stefg74) View from the west side of Olympus (stefg74) On the road to Olympus (ptwo) On the road to Olympus (ptwo) Olive grove against the backdrop of the peak of Mytikas, Greece (Lisa Murray) Olympus, Greece (Lisa Murray) View from space of Mount Olympus (Jim Trodel) Mount Olympus is located on the border of Macedonia and Thessaly between the prefectures of Pieria and Larissa (Nikos Koutoulas) View of Mount Olympus in Greece (Gabriel) Mount Olympus, Greece (Lisa Murray) Mount Olympus in winter, Greece (stefg74)

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain range in Greece and the second highest in Europe. Mountain chain, consisting of 40 pointed rocks, scattered over almost 20 km, and its elevation at the highest point reaches about 2917 m. Its name is Mitikas.

Next in height are the peaks of Scolio and Stefani. Stephanie's hill has several other names - “Pantheon” and “Throne of Zeus”.

• Stephanie Peak received its last name because of its resemblance to a high chair, and its dimensions, according to the ancient Greeks, corresponded exactly to the majestic god.
• The name "Pantheon" is associated with the belief of the ancient Greeks that it was here that the entire divine clan of the Olympian gods lived.

Mount Olympus on the map occupies an area of ​​500 square meters. km., on which monuments of nature, history and religion are located.

Olive grove with Mytikas peak in the background, Greece (Lisa Murray)

Olympus is of great importance for Greece. The ecosystem of the mountain range includes about 1,700 species of flora and fauna.

About 25% of them are endemic, i.e. are not found anywhere else in the world.

Since 1938, Olympus has been a nature reserve of national importance. Since 1981, the natural wealth of the mountains has been protected by UNESCO.

In 1985, the mountains acquired the status of an archaeological and historical monument. Here in 1961, during archaeological excavations, the temple of Zeus was discovered. Later, the ruins of the temple complex of the god Apollo were found.

At the site of excavations, which are still carried out today, it is periodically possible to recover many religious objects: statues, idols, altars, etc. Currently, the area where archaeological excavations are being carried out is a kind of open-air museum. Access to the ruins is open to tourists.

Thus, Olympus is a real tourist mecca. Every year hundreds of thousands of travelers strive to conquer its heights or touch the history and shrines.

Where is Mount Olympus located?

Mytikas Peak is the peak of Mount Olympus, located approximately 260 kilometers from Athens, the capital of Greece, and 24 kilometers south of the village of Katerini. From the coastline of Pieria to the top of Olympus is 18 kilometers.

You can study the location of Mount Olympus in more detail on the map of Greece.

Ancient Greece and Mount Olympus - the refuge of the gods

The greatness and mystery of the mountains led the inhabitants of Ancient Greece to believe that it was here that the gods found their refuge.

View of Mount Olympus from space (Jim Trodel)

According to ancient greek mythology, the first rulers of the world and mountains were the Titans, who were expelled by Zeus, who then became the supreme god of Olympus. The Hellenes believed that the heavenly ruler ruled human destinies in heaven, announcing his decisions with lightning strikes. In managing worldly affairs, the Thunderer was helped by his divine relatives - wives, children, brothers, as well as demigods and heroes.

But in general, their whole life was devoted to carefree joy and pleasure. Here they gathered for feasts, organized games and tournaments.

Tired of the festivities, the celestials turned their gaze to the earth and indulged in their favorite entertainment - war. In the excitement of battle, they sometimes forgot the difference between mortals and gods, entering into bloody battles with each other.

The highest peak of Mount Olympus - 2917 m. (stefg74

The heavenly rulers had their favorites among the people whom they helped, and there were those from whom they turned away or sent their wrath.

Mere mortals made sacrifices and offered prayers to appease the gods. Direct contact with celestials was prohibited. And therefore to penetrate into the abode of the gods simple people could not: the entrance to Olympus was blocked by the goddesses of time Ora.

Olympus now

Installed on Greek lands Christian dogma, Mount Olympus became the abode Orthodox shrines, where the name of the one God for all Christians was extolled. All R. XVI century St. Dionysius founded a monastery here, which now bears the name of the saint.

The monastery became dilapidated over time. Today, restoration work is underway here, but the monastery is active, services and liturgies are held here. Many pilgrims flock to the mountains to honor the shrine.

Tourism: everyone can conquer Olympus

Mount Olympus attracts thousands of tourists not only with its natural resources and a thousand-year history, but an opportunity to try your hand at conquering its peaks.

Mytikas Peak, Mount Olympus (stefg74)

As a rule, experienced climbers prefer to explore the mountains on their own.

A safe tourist route has been developed for climbing enthusiasts and beginners.

The starting point of the hike is the small town of Litochoro, with an overnight stay in the monastery of St. Dionysius. The entire ascent takes about two days.

The route is equipped with all the necessary signs, so it will be quite difficult to get lost, but beginners should still use the services of experienced guides.

We'll have to go through forested areas, mountain rivers, valleys and rocks. The path is quite tiring for the most part, but all this is compensated by breathtaking panoramic views.

On the way to Olympus (ptwo)

You can recover and gain strength before the main ascent to the top of Mytikas at the tourist guesthouse “Agapitos”. The boarding house provides travelers with the opportunity to refresh themselves and relax. However, the number of places in it is limited; it can accommodate 110 tourists. Therefore, it is worth making arrangements for overnight accommodation in advance.

Climbing Mytikas takes about 3 hours, but despite the passability of the trails, the path is very difficult, and therefore tourists are advised to leave all large things in the guesthouse and go light.

At the top of Mytikas, tourists are treated to a majestic bird's-eye view of Greece and receive the symbolic status of “conqueror of the Olympic Mountains” - each tourist is given a certificate that confirms the fact of climbing Olympus.

Also, everyone can leave their autograph, review and greetings for followers in a special tourist book.

Summit of Olympus - Mytikas

The most high mountain Greece is the legendary Mount Olympus, or rather one of its peaks - Mytikas, reaching a height of 2919 meters above sea level. Olympus is located on the border of Greek Thessaly and the Republic of Macedonia. Mount Olympus is not one peak or two peaks, it is about 50 peaks, the heights of which range from 760 to 2919 meters. These peaks are cut by numerous ravines, which create beautiful and terrifying landscapes. The highest mountain in Greece was conquered only in 1913.

In ancient times, the Greeks believed that twelve main gods lived on Mount Olympus, who, under the leadership of the main god Zeus, crushed the Titans, and after that order reigned in the world.

Climbing Olympus

Top of Olympus all year round covered with snow, and when the weather is clear, it sparkles in the sun. The length of the ridge, which includes Mount Olympus, is 20 kilometers.

Ordinary tourists do not rise higher than the foot of Olympus. However, people with special training can reach the top within 6 hours. The base for climbing the mountain and visiting the reserve is the village of Litokhoron, located near the foot of the mountain.

Olympic Reserve

The area adjacent to the mountain is national reserve since 1938. There is a rich animal here and vegetable world. Some animals are relict. Here you can meet deer, badgers, wild boars, forest wild cat. About 1,700 plant species grow on Mount Olympus. There are birch and oak forests, groves of Macedonian spruce. For many centuries, a unique yew grove has been growing in the vicinity of the Dionysius Monastery.

The name Mount Olympus has long become a common noun, meaning something grandiose. Even the highest mountain on the planet Mars is called Olympus.

You lower your eyes and gasp with delight - all around are snow-capped peaks, tall pine trees, or the alluring azure lying at the foot of the sea.

The highest mountain in Greece is Olympus, which is located in Thessaly. Many of us are familiar with it from ancient Greek mythology. If you remember, it was on Olympus that the gods of the Greeks lived and this myth was born for a reason. The height of this mountain range reaches 2917 meters. It is the massif, because of this, that all the confusion occurs, since most often, the highest mountain in Greece is called Mytikas, but this is not a mountain in itself, but just one of the peaks of the Olympic mountain range. Its height reaches 2919 meters, the next highest peaks are Scolio, height 2912 meters and Stephanie 2909 meters. Mount Olympus is not one peak or two peaks, it is about 50 peaks, the heights of which range from 760 to 2919 meters. These peaks are cut by numerous ravines, which create beautiful and terrifying landscapes. The highest mountain in Greece was conquered only in 1913.

According to researcher Richard Onians, the legendary ambrosia - the food of the Olympian gods, giving them youth and immortality - is the divine equivalent of olive oil. So every Greek could taste the divine dish.

In ancient times, the Greeks believed that twelve main gods lived on Mount Olympus, who, under the leadership of the main god Zeus, crushed the Titans, and after that order reigned in the world. Olympus, in addition to serving as the abode of the gods in ancient times, also performed another function. Served as a natural border between Macedonia and Greece. Over time, the mythology of the ancient Greeks changed a little and Olympus began to be called not only the mountain, but the entire sky above Greece, in fact, the ancient gods now lived there.

In ancient Greek mythology, Olympus is a sacred mountain, the seat of the gods led by Zeus. Olympus is a mountain in Thessaly where the gods live. The name Olympus is of pre-Greek origin (a possible connection with the Indo-European root “to rotate”, i.e. an indication of the roundness of the peaks) and belongs to a number of mountains of Greece and Asia Minor. On Olympus are the palaces of Zeus and other gods, built and decorated by Hephaestus. The gates of Olympus are opened and closed by the Oras as they ride out in golden chariots. Olympus is thought of as a symbol of the supreme power of the new generation of Olympian gods who defeated the Titans. Initially, Olympus (it is unknown which one) was occupied by the snake-like titan Ophion and his oceanid wife Eurynome. Cronus and Rhea liked this place, and they occupied it, expelling Ophion and Eurynome, who had found refuge in the ocean. Cronos and Rhea were expelled from Olympus by Zeus. The gods lived a carefree and cheerful life.

Flemish painter Peter Rubens painted “The Feast of the Gods on Olympus”. The exact date Researchers could not determine its composition until astronomers saw the picture. They found that the characters were located exactly the same as the planets in the sky in 1602.

The gates of Olympus were guarded by the virgin goddesses of time ora. Neither beast nor man could wander there. Gathering together, the gods and goddesses feasted, enjoying ambrosia, which restored strength and gave immortality. They quenched their thirst with fragrant nectar. Nectar and ambrosia were carried to the gods and goddesses by the handsome young man Ganymede. There was no shortage of entertainment on Olympus. To please the ears and eyes of the celestials, the white-legged Kharites, goddesses of eternal joy, holding hands, led round dances. Sometimes Apollo himself took up the cithara, and all nine muses sang along with him in agreement.

If you got tired of music, songs and dances, you could go from the heights of Olympus. look at the ground. The most fascinating sight for the gods was the war that flared up here and there. The inhabitants of Olympus had their favorites. One sympathized with the Greeks, the other with the Trojans. Sometimes, seeing that his charges were being crowded, first one or the other god left the place of observation and, descending to the ground, entered into battle. Entering into a rage, the combatants did not see the difference between mortals and celestials. Then the gods had to flee, clutching the colorless, fragrant blood flowing in streams with their palms.

As Greek myths say, the gods, having settled on Olympus, agreed that it did not belong to any of them, and decided not to choose a ruler. But soon Zeus and his brothers and sisters seized power: Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia and Demeter. Zeus, the supreme god, was the youngest of them in age.

Subsequently, when the people of the ancient world learned more about the universe, by Olympus they began to understand not just one mountain, but the entire sky. It was believed that Olympus covers the earth like a vault and the Sun, Moon and Stars wander along it. When the Sun stood at its zenith, they said that it was at the top of Olympus. They thought that in the evening, when it passes through the western gate of Olympus, i.e. The sky closes, and in the morning it is opened by the goddess of dawn Eos.

Now the entire massif is a nature reserve. By visiting it you can see rare representatives of Greek flora and fauna, and from the mountain itself there is a stunning view of Greece. Many tourists want to visit this ancient abode of the gods. However, it will not be possible to get to the top itself due to the English military radar installed there.

In 1938, Olympus was declared a national reserve; more than 1,700 species of plants and animals that grow and live only here make up the unique ecosystem of this mountainous region. Protected by UNESCO since 1981. Since 1985 it has been declared an archaeological monument.

The holy martyr Neophytos lived in a cave on the slope of Olympus. At the age of 15, he came to the mountain for a white dove. A huge lion lived in the cave, but, having heard the words of Neophyte, he submitted to him and went to another place. Neophyte lived in this cave until the time of his martyrdom, when the ruler Decius ordered him to be killed.

In 1961, a temple of Zeus was discovered on one of the peaks of Ayios Antonios, dating from the Hellenistic to the late Christian period. The remains of sacrificial animals, coins, and statues were discovered. also in various places The temple of Apollo of Delphi and the ancient tomb of Orpheus were discovered. The Temple of Apollo is located at an altitude of 1000 meters, and it is known that it was from there that Xenagoras, using a telescope and geometric calculations, determined the height of Olympus to be 2960 meters, which is not so far from the truth. A few hundred meters from shelter A there is an exit to the monastery of St. Dionysius, built by himself and dated 1542. Throughout time it was destroyed more than once, but the greatest damage was caused during the Second World War.

Over the next 60 years it was in the process of reconstruction. More precisely, individual buildings were reconstructed, but the dilapidated ancient walls were kept intact, reminiscent of the fact that even in the sanctuary of antiquity, unfortunately, the evil of war penetrated. The interesting thing is that to this day, it is active, so the monks ask visitors to be dressed appropriately, as indicated by the sign at the entrance. A 20-minute walk over rough terrain is a sacred cave, apparently where a saint originally lived. The place is secluded and conducive to meditation. Along the way there is a mountain river, in which it is forbidden to swim and pollute it, since the water there is drinkable, cold and tasty.

Words, words...Words are empty if they are not confirmed by our main source of information - vision. The places are truly amazing. Even if you are not moved by the thought that thousands of years ago people dedicated their lives to the gods living on Olympus, even if the very existence of these mountains long before us and long after us does not inspire awe, nevertheless the nature here is capable of delighting the most picky person. Its beauty is beyond competition, it envelops.

Greece has long been famous for its mountains. True, not so much because of the unprecedented heights, but because of the legends associated with them. Just remember Olympus - sacred mountain in ancient Greek mythology, where, according to legend, Zeus himself lived. For this reason greek gods often called Olympians. The most interesting thing is that Olympus is the highest Greek mountain.

Olympus

Currently, Olympus is a mythological and historical symbol, as well as a protected natural monument. The reserve, located near the mountain, is interesting because its territory contains a huge number of plants - more than 1,700 species, but animals - ten times less.

You can climb Olympus on your own without any problems. Usually the ascent begins from the town of Litokhoron, where the information center for climbing enthusiasts is located. Here you can take a taxi and get to Prionia, which is located at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level. There is a restaurant, toilet, and parking here. There is no hotel, but you can spend the night in the monastery of St. Dionysius, which is located nearby. Then, on foot, you can reach the so-called Shelter A, located at an altitude of 2100 meters. From here you can reach other shelters and the summit.

The most high peak Olympus - Mytikas, its height is 2917 meters. There are others, but they are somewhat lower.

Zmolikas

The second place is occupied by Mount Zmolikas. It is located in northwestern Greece. The height of the largest peak reaches 2638 meters. The length of the mountain is, according to various estimates, from 15 to 20 km, and its width is about 10 km.

Near the mountain there are two nature reserves, and on one of the slopes you can find the Alpine-type Drakolimni lake.

Nije

Bronze goes to Mount Nidje, which is located on the border of Greece and Macedonia. The most high point— Kaymakchalan peak, which is located at 2521 m above sea level. Since the peak is quite popular, it is often called the mountain itself.

Nije is considered a very old mountain, older than many others located in the country. Very rich in animal species, not many plants.