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 wi ...

. It is the capital of the regional unit of Evrytania. Karpenisi is situated in the valley of the river Karpenisiotis (Καρπενησιώτης), a tributary of the Megdovas, in the southern part of the Pindus Mountains. Mount Tymfristos (2,315 m elevation) lies directly to the north of the town, and the foothills of mount

Kaliakouda Mount Kaliakouda ( el, Καλιακούδα) is a mountain in the Evrytania regional unit, Central Greece. It has a height of 2,101 metres above sea level. Kaliakouda is a south-eastern extension of the southern Pindus Mountains, and is located ...

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 ''Carpinus betulus'', the European or common hornbeam, is a species of tree in the birch family Betulaceae, native to Western Asia and central, eastern, and southern Europe, including southern England. It requires a warm climate for good growth, ...

) + 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 (Ampliani, Domnista, Krikello, Mesokomi, Psiana, Roska, Stavloi) * Fourna (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 the ...

, Karpenisi, Koryschades, Myriki, Papparousi, 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 are ...

) *

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 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 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 ...

, 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, 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 Gran ...

(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. Theodoropoulos competed in the pole vault. He tied with fellow Greek ...

, bronze medal in the pole vault 1896 Summer Olympics * Georgios Kondylis (1878–1936), General of the Greek army and Prime Minister of Greece *

Charalambos Katsimitros Charalambos Katsimitros (; 1886–1962) was a Greece, Greek general who distinguished himself during the Italian Greco-Italian War, invasion of Greece. Early life and career Katsimitros entered the Army in 1904. He participated in the Balkan Wa ...

(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 (1935–1989), Greek politician and journalist

Notable events

* Battle of Karpenisi (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