Lake Trichonida, the Aegean Sea of Aetolia-Acarnania, is a revelation in winter. It awaits to enchant you
with its unparalleled tranquility, picturesque villages, and delicious culinary offerings.
Yes, the archipelago of Aetolia-Acarnania is Lake Trichonida.
The reason
So when a friend from the lake area invites you to his house, of course you immediately say yes, thank you, and start preparing for your trip.
You know, reading up on the area, getting a first impression and touring Google maps, cameras, tripods, charging batteries, etc., etc.
So we set off for a simple three-day trip to Nikos’ village, Mataraga, located on the lake.
The new national highway with its latest designs brought us quickly and safely to the great gateway of Aetolia-Acarnania.
The incredible Rio-Antirrio bridge.
The new motorway, “Ionia Road,” Antirrio Ioannina, has breathed new life into the entire region, which for so many years suffered from the narrow and difficult, winding old road, and has greatly reduced travel time.
The journey in nature
After Aitoliko, turn right towards Agrinio. You pass the imposing rocky Kleisoura, with the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi perched among the high, steep rocks. After a while, you will see Lake Lysimachia in front of you.
On your right, you will see Trichonida in the distance, calmly beckoning you, and you will begin your journey.
Get to know the lake and its villages.
The nature around the lake is incredibly green and charming.
On one side, Panaitoliko and on the other, Mount Arakynthos welcome you with their lush, enchanting beauty.
Lake Trichonida is the second largest lake in the country, it is the Aegean Sea of Aetolia-Acarnania.
It is a very clean lake with many species of fish, but also a multitude of rare birds.
Lake Trichonida, the Aegean Sea of Aetolia-Acarnania, is also one of the few areas in Greece where otters can be found. This is another example of the purity of its waters. Here you will find the unique lake smelt. You can taste it in all the coastal taverns.
The best sea bream is caught in Lake Trichonida in the Aegean Sea of Aetolia-Acarnania.
Yes, the lake is the only one that is home to the sea smelt, a fish that lives only in the sea.
In some distant era, it somehow entered the lake and adapted perfectly to its fresh water.
Fried lake sand eel is the perfect snack to accompany your tsipouro as you gaze out over the calm waters of the lake.
Walk around the lake
On the shores of the lake there are beautiful forests of plane trees, poplars, willows and oleanders that reach down to its green waters.
The lake stretches from east to west and is connected by a wide canal on the western side to the neighboring Lake Lysimachia.
The route around the lake offers unique beauty.
Not far from its shore, there are many villages. Among them, Papadates, Mataraga, Grammatikou, Gavalo, and Agios Andreas stand out on one side. On the northern side, there is the picturesque lakeside village of Myrtia, Thermo with its plane trees, waters, market, and stone houses. There is also Petrochori with its traditional stone buildings and Analipsi. On the eastern side, the balcony of Trichonida, which has the entire lake at its feet to the west.
A stroll through Thermo, with its rare examples of modern architecture, will convince you.
It is a shining example of resistance to the general abandonment of the Greek countryside.
Here you will not see anywhere the familiar buildings of sheet metal and unfinished concrete, the trademark of the tragic Greek neo-culture.
Here, all the buildings, houses, and shops are stone-built with beautiful balconies and red tiles everywhere.
The large square with its old plane trees and running water has a calming effect. It calms you and draws you in for a Greek coffee, listening only to the water flowing.
In addition, Thermo has a fantastic environmental wealth with lush slopes that descend to merge with the crystal clear waters of Lake Trichonida.
At Myrtia village
The downhill route to Myrtia and the lakeside village of Perevos is enchanting. It is lined with plane trees, fruit trees, and poplars that accompany you all the way to the beach. The huge willow trees dip their long branches into the lake as if drinking its crystal clear water.
The nature is enchanting, the lake crystal clear, reflecting the mountains opposite.
Only a few birds chirp lost in the reeds, a few cormorants bask lazily with their wings open, and a few ducks take their morning stroll in the green waters of the lake.
The “Nanoboutichtaria” (the black duck) impress with their amazing long dives, until you think they will never come out again.
The perfect time for a little ouzo…
The taverna “Myrtia”, right on the water as we say, has just opened, and a grandmother is peeling potatoes.
The slightly raised terrace beneath the eucalyptus and plane trees leaning over the lake is a unique sight.
A few scattered tables above the water — as if you were sitting in the finest box at La Scala in Milan.
What followed cannot be described in words…
You have to experience this peace and tranquility that the lake generously gives you!!!
Watching the birds passing by, to listen to the dialogues of the hidden birds, through the reeds.
To count the breath of the little diving duck and to wonder where on earth it will come out….
Try the fried potato, the dry-roasted lake white merganser and the tomato with coarse salt in fours!!!
Here nature calls… immortalize me, absorb me, live with me!!!
No matter how much you sit, you can’t get enough and at some point you start to return. We followed the sun that slowly recedes, leaving its purple veil on the lake.
Dinner
Back home, some rest and preparation for the evening out.
You may be on the lake and your mind says fish, but here the area says meat.
Here we are in Roumeli and the grills are scattered and all with the famous grilled dishes of the area.
You go out and follow your nose, or better yet your local friend who knows the places.
The good thing is that it’s a little outside the village, that is, two kilometers away, Nikos said. And in five minutes we were inside the “Ovelistiri ta kioupia“. From the only entrance that takes you through the spits of course.
The spit at its best offers all the types that the capital is unable to give us.
Lamb, goat, kokoretsia, kontosouvlia, gardoubakia, splinandera, frigadelia with lamb liver, heads and brains on the grates …
I wanted it all!!!
Each of us took a platter with a variety, nothing more than to avoid the certain fight.
A platter with a mountain of potatoes and a rustic one also arrived…
For the first time, I didn’t eat potatoes and salad. I couldn’t decide what I liked more about the meats.
The kontosouvli melted in the mouth, the kokoretsi with its old classic flavor. The tsierosarmas, frigadelia as the locals call it, wrapped in its wrappers. Perfectly cooked, juicy, a taste that was new to me but amazing.
‘As you can see, there are no photos here… we didn’t have time.
The first day ended with the beauty of the lake etched in the mind and the flavors imprinted on the palate.
Time for bed because tomorrow will be even better.
The plan is for fishermen to go on an excursion to the lagoon of Messolonghi in Tholi!
Text and photos by GiorgioGrigor
