Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
took refuge. Surrounded and on the point of defeat, the defenders ignited a powder
magazine just as the Turks entered. Hundreds were killed, Cretan and Turk alike, and the
tragedy did much to promote international sympathy for the cause of Cretan
independence. Nowadays, you can peer into the roofless vault where the explosion
occurred and wander about the rest of the well-restored grounds. The sixteenth-century
church
survived, and is one of the finest Venetian structures left on Crete; other buildings
house a small
museum
devoted to the exploits of the defenders of the faith.
Yeoryioúpoli and around
On the coastal route, midway between Haniá and Réthymnon (on the
provincial border of
Haniá),
YEORYOÚPOLI
(Georgioúpoli) is very much a resort, packed with rooms to rent,
small hotels, apartment buildings, tavernas and travel agencies, but everything remains on
a small scale. As long as you don't expect to find too many vestiges of traditional Crete, it's
a very pleasant place to pass a few days. Yeoryioúpoli's central beach is narrow and busy;
walk east a few hundred metres for the quieter and wider sands.
7
Lake Kournás
KOURNÁS
, Crete's only natural freshwater lake, is set deep in a bowl of hills just 4km
inland from Yeoryioúpoli. The best scenic route is via the hamlet of
MATHÉS
, and if
you are on foot there is a ramblers' path from here leading to the lake's northern edge.
Kournás
village proper lies 4km uphill from the lake. Spring is the best time to visit the
lake; the peacefulness and the profusion of wild flowers are stunning. In high summer
you could be in a completely different place, as the winter waters recede and the
lake-shore “beach” is packed with umbrellas and sunloungers.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
YEORYIOÚPOLI AND AROUND
By bus
Yeoryioúpoli is easily reached from both
Réthymnon and Haniá; the main-line buses running hourly
(6.30am-10.30pm) along the main highway stop here.
ACTIVITIES
Cycling
Adventure Bikes (
T
28250 61830,
W
adventurebikes.org) organize easy bike tours all around
the western end of the island with transport to get you up
the steep bits.
Diving
Paradise Dive Centre, Petres Geraniou
T
28310
26317,
W
diving-center.gr. Beginners' and advanced scuba
diving based near Yeoryoúpoli to the west of town. Will pick
up from hotels in Réthymnon. PADI certificated.
Horseriding
Zoraïda's (
T
28250 61745,
W
zoraidas
-horseriding.com), for horseriding, including organized
rides along the beach or up to Lake Kournás.
ACCOMMODATION
YEORYIOÚPOLI
Andy's Rooms
T
28250 61394.
Friendly place, shaded
by eucalyptus trees, offering large good-value rooms and
apartments with balcony, a/c, fridge and TV. Take the road
towards the beach from the sout
h e
nd of the square and
you'll find it opposite the church.
€45
Anna
T
28250 61556,
W
annashouse.gr.
Just across the
river, this upgraded complex of stylish rooms, studios and
apartments (sleeping up to seven) with balcony is set
around a larg
e po
ol. Facilities include fridge and satellite
TV. May-Oct.
€85
River House
T
28250 61141,
W
riverhouse.gr.
A
pleasant family-run complex of rooms and studios with
balcony, kitchenette, a/c, satellite TV and
free
wi-fi access.
There's also a pool and garden. May-Oct.
€48
LAKE KOURNÁS
Villa Kapasa
T
28250 61050,
W
villa-kapasas.com.
Comfortable, spacious, en-suite, a/c rooms in a restored old
building which retains a number of its original stone
features, with a cool, leafy gar
den.
50m uphill from
Taverna
Mathes
(see p.488). May-Oct
.
€40
EATING AND DRINKING
YEORYIOÚPOLI
Taverna Babis-Fontas
T
28250 61760.
This friendly
traditional taverna down towards the beach is good for
simple Greek and Cretan dishes; try their excellent rabbit
stifado (€7.50).
May-Oct daily lunch & dinner.
Taverna Paradise
T
28250 61313.
A good taverna
