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Archanes village – Crete

Let’s take a walk to this beautifull village of Crete | Archanes village | Private Tours

Just 15 kilometers south of the city of Heraklion is the picturesque Archanes village, which is situated on the slopes of Mount Giouhtas. It has a 5000-year history and is located in the heart of Crete’s most significant wine-producing region. In the last 50 years, excavations have uncovered many sites that date back to the Minoan era.


The hamlet is renowned for its traditional Cretan architecture as well. Recent renovations have been made to the majority of the homes, and Archanes has won the second prize for being “the best restored village in Europe.”

Let’s take a walk to this beautifull village of Crete

In Archanes, visitors can find several stunning churches from the Byzantine and Venetian eras, such as Panagia church, Agia Pareskevi, Agia Triada, and Agios Giorgos. However, the town also boasts exceptional neoclassical architecture, which is rare for Crete. This style emerged in the 19th century when Crete was still under Ottoman rule. Cretans adopted neoclassicism to express their cultural identity and solidarity with liberated Greece following the 1821 revolution.

For those who enjoy hiking and outdoor activities, Archanes offers several options. For example, one can hike to the summit of Jiouktas, said to be the burial site of Zeus. The progenitor of all gods and humans. Or take the E4 European Trail from Profitis Ilias to Myrtia and explore the Archanes Gorge. Shaded by plane and sycamore trees. Another option is to climb Fourni Hill, where one can stroll through a picturesque pine wood and see the scenic views.