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 ...

. 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

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 1 ...

(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) * Ktimenia (Agia Triada, Agios Charalampos, Chochlia, Domianoi, Petralona) * Potamia (Aniada, Chelidonas, Dermati, Karitsa, Klafsi, Megalo Chorio, Mikro Chorio, Mouzilo, Nostimo, Sygkrellos) * Prousos (Alestia, Aspropyrgos, Esochoria, Kastania, Katavothra, Prodromos, Prousos, Sarkini, Stavrochori, Tornos, Velota) The municipality has an area of 948.570 km², the municipal unit 250.887 km².

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 ci ...

, 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 *

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: 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 kingdoms of Italy and G ...

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

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