Limenaria Thassos

Limenaria, Thassos: An especial place combining beautiful beaches with the sense of another era

Limenaria, Thassos, is one of the prettiest and biggest towns of the island. It is located at the southwest side of the island, opposite to the breathtaking Mount Athos or Agio Oros, and approximately 40 kilometres away from Limenas, Thassos’ capital.

Limenaria, Thassos, is located at a wonderful location. The town continuously expands and has recently been united with the neighbouring village of Kalyvia. The area of Limenaria is one of the most popular destinations and the centre of attraction for visitors to Thassos, who come from both Greece and abroad.

Limenaria, Thassos - the town and the long beach

The long beach of Limenaria, Thassos, extends to the west for about 2 kilometres, at a very close distance from the town’s center.

Just at a short distance out of Limenaria, at about 4 kilometres to the west, you may find the picturesque cove of Trypiti, with the piny hills. The sea at Trypiti is blue-green and in combination with the long golden sandy beach renders Trypiti one of the most beautiful places in Thassos. Trypiti (which means “pierced” in English) took its name from the opening on the rock, from the one edge of which sea water enters inside the big rocky formation, thus creating a big natural basin of round shape.

At the east of Limenaria, Thassos, at a short distance through a woody area, we may find the town and the beach of the mines. At this seaside area the nature coexists with the remnants of another, forgotten era. The uniqueness of the beach lays to the fact that the remnants of the abandoned buildings of the mines match harmonically with the blue-green sea of the North Aegean Sea, thus giving the impression of another era, long time past.

As the locals in Limenaria, Thassos, shall tell you, the building predominating at the central rock with the epithet “Palace”, is one of the most beautiful sights of the area. This building, emerging over the area Vathylimenari, was constructed by the German businessman of the mines F. Spiedel between 1903 and 1905. It was the administration centre of the company, as well as the house of the owner. It is an architectural example of western style of the era with colour adaptations to the natural environment, red tiles and yellow walls, at the colours of the rocks and blue-green windows at the colours of the sea. The surroundings are overgrown with pines harmonically combined with the natural environment, while from the top of the rock you may enjoy one of the most amazing sunsets.

Limenaria, Thassos, is one of the well-organized areas on the island. Small picturesque taverns offer at reasonable prices fresh fish, local wine and sweet preserves. At the cafés and beach bars you may enjoy your drink or coffee with any fresh snack.

At the port of Limenaria are cooked the famous donuts of Thassos, prepared on the spot by a local type of pastry and local honey. At this comparatively small port you may buy fresh fish in the morning, before it runs short due to great demand, and also take one of the numerous traditional small boats that offer amazing sea tours at the nearby beaches.

Limenaria, Thassos - a place with a long, rich history

Close to Limenaria, Thassos, there was in antiquity the temple of Zeus Dasios according to many researchers. The mass concentration of residents at the area began in the 19th century, in a village built in the wild interior of the island, where there was a medieval castle.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the area’s population increased due to the large number of workers in the nearby mines. Apart from the mines, in 1922, the Asia Minor catastrophe and the population exchange led to the increase of the population by the Greek refugees who came to Thassos and Limenaria.

The mines next to Limenaria, Thassos, opened in 1903 by Speidel-Pforzeheil Company, with special permit by the Ottoman Empire that occupied the island at that time, for the extraction of argentous, zinc and lead minerals. The extraction stopped in 1930 due to the global financial crisis of the era. The mines reopened by Vielle Montagne in 1950, selling minerals to the metallurgic company Krupp. Since 1962 they stopped the extraction and the space was left abandoned. Recently the local authorities with the support of various cultural associations try to liven up the mines of Limenaria, arranging the space of the mines for the organization of cultural events, such as exhibitions, concerts and performances.

Limenaria, Thassos, is one of the biggest settlements in the island, providing all the facilities to the visitor. Beautiful beaches combined with the closely interwoven history of the area with the mines, create at Limenaria, Thassos, an original holidays setting that you should experience!