Karpenisi ( el, Καρπενήσι, ) is a town in central
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
. It is the capital of the regional unit of
Evrytania
Evrytania ( el, Ευρυτανία, ; Latin: ''Eurytania'') is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. Its capital is Karpenisi (approx. 8,000 inhabitants).
Geography
Evrytania is almost entirely formed ...
. Karpenisi is situated in the valley of the river Karpenisiotis (Καρπενησιώτης), a tributary of the
Megdovas
The Megdovas (, ), also known as Tavropos (, avroˈpos, is a river that flows through the Karditsa and Evrytania regional units, Greece. It is long.Pindus Mountains
The Pindus (also Pindos or Pindhos; el, Πίνδος, Píndos; sq, Pindet; rup, Pindu) is a mountain range located in Northern Greece and Southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km (100 miles) long, with a maximum elevation of 2,637 metr ...
. Mount
Tymfristos
Tymfristos ( el, Τυμφρηστός) is a mountain in the eastern part of Evrytania and the western part of Phthiotis, Greece. The mountain is a part of the Pindus mountain range. The elevation of its highest peak, Velouchi ( el, Βελούχι ...
(2,315 m elevation) lies directly to the north of the town, and the foothills of mount
Kaliakouda are in the south. Karpenisi has a ski resort and is a popular destination, especially during winter. It is called ''Switzerland of Greece'' for the resemblance with the mountainous country and its beauty, atypical for a Mediterranean place.
Etymology
The name Karpenisi derives from the
Aromanian word kárpinu (
Carpinus betulus) + the ending -iş. The Greek spelling "Καρπενήσι" is influenced by folk etymology, the second combining form appearing to be "νησί" (island, pronounced
iˈsi. The first mention of the name is traced back to an
Ottoman tax ledger of 1454-1455.
Municipality
![Karpenisi old high school](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Karpenisi_old_high_school.jpg)
The municipality Karpenisi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
*
Domnista
Domnista ( el, Δομνίστα) is a village and a former municipality in Evrytania, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Karpenisi
Karpenisi ( el, Καρπενήσι, ) is a town in central Greece. It ...
(Ampliani, Domnista, Krikello, Mesokomi, Psiana, Roska, Stavloi)
*
Fourna
Fourna ( el, Φουρνά) is a village and a former municipality in Evrytania in central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karpenisi, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 13 ...
(Fourna, Kleisto, Vracha)
*Karpenisi (Agia Vlacherna, Agios Andreas, Agios Nikolaos, Fidakia,
Kalesmeno Kalesmeno is a community within the municipality of Karpenisi in Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at th ...
, Karpenisi, Koryschades, Myriki,
Papparousi Papparousi ( el, Παππαρούσι) is a small village in Evrytania, Greece. It is part of the municipality of Karpenisi
Karpenisi ( el, Καρπενήσι, ) is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit of Evrytania. K ...
, Pavlopoulo, Sella, Stefani, Stenoma,
Voutyro
Voutyro ( el, Βουτύρο) is a small village located 6 kilometers south-west of Karpenisi, the capital of Evrytania, Greece. Voutyro is situated at an elevation of . Voutyro is known by UNESCO as one of the five most environmentally clean areas ...
)
*
Ktimenia
Ktimenia ( el, Κτημένια) is a former municipality in Evrytania, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karpenisi
Karpenisi ( el, Καρπενήσι, ) is a town in central Greece. It is the capital ...
(Agia Triada, Agios Charalampos, Chochlia, Domianoi, Petralona)
*
Potamia (Aniada, Chelidonas, Dermati, Karitsa, Klafsi, Megalo Chorio, Mikro Chorio, Mouzilo, Nostimo, Sygkrellos)
*
Prousos
Prousos ( el, Προυσός) is a village and a former municipality in Evrytania, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karpenisi
Karpenisi ( el, Καρπενήσι, ) is a town in central Greece. It is t ...
(Alestia, Aspropyrgos, Esochoria, Kastania, Katavothra, Prodromos, Prousos, Sarkini, Stavrochori, Tornos, Velota)
The municipality has an area of 948.570 km
2, the municipal unit 250.887 km
2.
Mayor of Karpenisi
*
Kostas Bakoyannis
Kostas Bakoyannis ( el, Κώστας Μπακογιάννης; born 16 March 1978) is a Greek politician. Having served as mayor of the town of Karpenisi, he was popularly elected Regional governor of Central Greece in the 2014 local elections. ...
, 1 January 2011 – 31 August 2014
* Nikos Souliotis, since 1 September 2014 (current)
History
Karpenisi has a lot of history in the region. In antiquity, Karpenisi was known as ''Oechalia'' and ruled by king Evrytos, inventor of the bow.
During the
Greek Revolution of 1821, the towns mountainous location was of strategic importance for central Roumeli.
During more recent times, the region took part in WWI and WWII, becoming the place where the armed National Resistance was initiated.
Climate
Due to its altitude, Karpenisi has a temperate climate with abundant rainfall year round and much cooler temperatures. Snowfall is frequent and heavy in winter, whereas summers are pleasantly warm with cool nights.
Historical population
Sister cities
*
Asheville
Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous cit ...
, US
Notable people
*
Zacharias Papantoniou
Zacharias Papantoniou ( el, Ζαχαρίας Παπαντωνίου, ''Zacharias Papandoniou'') was a Greek writer. He was born in Karpenissi of Evrytania in February 1877 and died in Athens in 1940. He spent the first years of his life in Granit ...
(1877–1940), writer
*
Ioannis Theodoropoulos
Ioannis Theodoropoulos ( el, Ιωάννης Θεοδωρόπουλος) was a Greek pole vaulter. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. He was born in Evrytania
Evrytania ( el, Ευρυτανία, ; Latin: ''Eurytania'') is one of ...
, bronze medal in the pole vault
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 1896, Therinoí Olympiakoí Agónes 1896), officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 1ης Ολυμπιάδας, Agónes tis 1is Ol ...
*
Georgios Kondylis
Georgios Kondylis DSO (; 14 August 1878 – 1 February 1936) was a Greek general, politician and prime minister of Greece. He was nicknamed ''Keravnos'', Greek for "thunder" or "thunderbolt".
Military career
Kondylis was born in Prouss ...
(1878–1936), General of the Greek army and Prime Minister of Greece
*
Charalambos Katsimitros
Charalambos Katsimitros (; 1886–1962) was a Greek general who distinguished himself during the Italian invasion of Greece.
Early life and career
Katsimitros entered the Army in 1904. He participated in the Balkan Wars as a 2nd Lieutenant in ...
(1886–1962), General of the Greek army who distinguished himself during the
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War (Greek language, Greek: Ελληνοϊταλικός Πόλεμος, ''Ellinoïtalikós Pólemos''), also called the Italo-Greek War, Italian Campaign in Greece, and the War of '40 in Greece, took place between the kingdom ...
*
Pavlos Bakoyannis
Pavlos Bakoyannis ( el, Παύλος Μπακογιάννης; February 10, 1935 in Velota, Evrytania – September 26, 1989 in Athens) was a liberal Greek politician who was well known for his broadcasts against the Greek military junta of 1967 ...
(1935–1989), Greek politician and journalist
Notable events
*
Battle of Karpenisi
The Battle of Karpenisi took place near the town of Karpenisi (in Evrytania, central Greece) on the night of 21 August 1823, between units of the Greek revolutionary army and Ottoman troops.
Background
After the Ottoman failures of 1822, the ...
(8 August 1823) during the
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...
References
External links
GTP Travel Pages (Municipality)(in English and Greek)
Tourist Guide of Karpenisi
{{Karpenisi div
Populated places in Evrytania
Municipalities of Central Greece
Greek prefectural capitals