Kastellia
Encyclopedia
Kastellia is a town in Greece
, in the municipal unit of Gravia
, Phocis
. It lies on the Lamia
-Amfissa
-Nafpaktos road, 40 km from the city of Lamia and 35 km from Amfissa. The town is in the foothills of the Giona
and Oeta
Mountains, southwest of the Boiotikos basin.
Kastellia is served by the Bralos railway station, and is 2 hours by train from Athens. The old Athens-Thessaloniki
highway leads to Kastellia. From there, a new by-pass road leads to the mountainous villages of the Municipality of Sklithros followed by the Municipality of Kallieon.
Kastellia has an area of app. 37,468 acres (151,630 m²) and an average altitude of 450m. The ground is semi-highland consisting of:
(1) 8,914 acres of cultivated land,
(2) 11,368 acres of partial-forestry land,
(3) 13,925 acres of forestry quality land. The remainder is allocated for housing and roads.
The population has been steadily decreasing. The 1928 census found 1,066 inhabitants. By 1961 it had fallen to 827. The year 1991 saw it drop to 779 and the latest census, in 2001, counted only 549.
, the Dorians first inhabited the area a few thousands ago after the Trojan War
. Many of its local inhabitants fought in the Greek War of Independence
in 1821, it included 700 people from the village and from Chlomos. In the first years of Greece, it became a part of the municipality of Erineos
named after an ancient place and it served as the capital on April 20, 1835 and created the Newspaper of the Government as part of the province of Parnassida. The population at the time contained 2,253 persons. On July 3, 1872, the municipality was dissolved and reverted to the newly created municipality of Parnassida with no links with the older municipality. Later with the archeologist P. Evstratitis, as an emblem of three new dancer which circled the words Municipality Of Dorida. After the municipal changes in, the municipality was dissolved on August 29, 1912 (under Law 4057/1912) and became a community after the settlement of Chlomos. After World War II
and the Greek Civil War
, many of the buildings were rebuilt. The village was linked with pavement in the 1950s. Houses were stone-built until the 1950s and did not surpass modern-style homes until the 1980s. After December 20, 1978, the name changed from Kastelli to Kastellia. In 1997 under the Capodistrian Plan, it united the older communities into the municipality of Gravia and includes Apostolias
, Gravia (seat), Kaloskopi
, Kastellia, Mariolata, Oinochori
, Sklithro and Vargiani. Its economy today are mainly in agriculture.
The town has a modern Community Hall where the ground floor serves as the offices of the town council and the upper floor has been converted to a six room hostel to host students and tourists. A community clinic has been constructed at a site donated in 1972 by K.I.Drosopoulos. It provides low-cost health care to local residents and also serves as the doctor’s residence. The nearest lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) are in Gravia
.
Because of the limited agricultural activity, an Agricultural and Fiduciary Association is presently being housed in a large stone building which is also used as a repository. Originally, in 1910, it operated as the Mutual Association, a co-op which insured against crop and livestock loss. In Chlomos it ran the Rural and Cattle Association for the same purpose. Livestock farming is limited to flocks of sheep, goats and cattle. East of town there is a modern pig farm.
There are many professional craftsmen, such as carpenters, steelworkers, electricians and plumbers. Commercial facilities include supply yards of building materials and earthmoving machinery as well as a modern unit for processing timber. For entertainment purposes there are coffee houses, cafeterias and taverns.
A large number of Kastellians live in Athens, Piraeus
, Lamia, Thessaloniki, Amfissa, and Larissa
, as well as abroad (mainly in America and Australia). Despite the fact that the population is shrinking, a large number of new houses are being built and many older homes are being refurbished.
receive a commemorative diploma and a monetary reward. The Association was founded by Ioannis Moscholios.
By a decision of the Amfissa Court (#297/87), the founding statute of the "Kastellia Cultural Association" was approved. Its main aims are: (1) The study and protection of the natural environment of Kastellia. (2) The rediscovery and promotion of the town's cultural heritage. (3) Improving the cultural level of the population. The Cultural Association organizes many cultural events in Kastellia.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, in the municipal unit of Gravia
Gravia
Gravia is a village and a former municipality in the northeastern part of Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delphi, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 population was 897 for the village and 2,975 for the municipality. The municipal unit...
, Phocis
Phocis
Phocis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Vardousia on the west, upon the Gulf of Corinth...
. It lies on the Lamia
Lamia (city)
Lamia is a city in central Greece. The city has a continuous history since antiquity, and is today the capital of the regional unit of Phthiotis and of the Central Greece region .-Name:...
-Amfissa
Amfissa
Amfissa is a town and a former municipality in Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delphi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is also the capital of the regional unit of Phocis...
-Nafpaktos road, 40 km from the city of Lamia and 35 km from Amfissa. The town is in the foothills of the Giona
Mount Giona
Mount Giona is a mountain in Central Greece, in the prefecture of Phocis, located between the mountains of Parnassus and Vardousia. Known in classical antiquity as the Aselinon Oros , it is the highest mountain south of Olympus and the fifth overall in Greece...
and Oeta
Mount Oeta
Mount Oeta is a mountain to the south of Central Greece, in Greece, forming a boundary between the valleys of the Spercheius and the Boeotian Cephissus. It is an offshoot of the Pindus range, high. In its eastern portion, called Callidromus, it comes close to the sea, leaving only a narrow...
Mountains, southwest of the Boiotikos basin.
Kastellia is served by the Bralos railway station, and is 2 hours by train from Athens. The old Athens-Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
highway leads to Kastellia. From there, a new by-pass road leads to the mountainous villages of the Municipality of Sklithros followed by the Municipality of Kallieon.
Kastellia has an area of app. 37,468 acres (151,630 m²) and an average altitude of 450m. The ground is semi-highland consisting of:
(1) 8,914 acres of cultivated land,
(2) 11,368 acres of partial-forestry land,
(3) 13,925 acres of forestry quality land. The remainder is allocated for housing and roads.
The population has been steadily decreasing. The 1928 census found 1,066 inhabitants. By 1961 it had fallen to 827. The year 1991 saw it drop to 779 and the latest census, in 2001, counted only 549.
History
The area of Kastellia was known during the ancient timesAncient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
, the Dorians first inhabited the area a few thousands ago after the Trojan War
Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad...
. Many of its local inhabitants fought in the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
in 1821, it included 700 people from the village and from Chlomos. In the first years of Greece, it became a part of the municipality of Erineos
Erineos (disambiguation)
Erineos may refer to:*Erineos, a municipality in northeastern Achaea*Erineos, Phocis, an ancient city in northeastern Phocis...
named after an ancient place and it served as the capital on April 20, 1835 and created the Newspaper of the Government as part of the province of Parnassida. The population at the time contained 2,253 persons. On July 3, 1872, the municipality was dissolved and reverted to the newly created municipality of Parnassida with no links with the older municipality. Later with the archeologist P. Evstratitis, as an emblem of three new dancer which circled the words Municipality Of Dorida. After the municipal changes in, the municipality was dissolved on August 29, 1912 (under Law 4057/1912) and became a community after the settlement of Chlomos. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, many of the buildings were rebuilt. The village was linked with pavement in the 1950s. Houses were stone-built until the 1950s and did not surpass modern-style homes until the 1980s. After December 20, 1978, the name changed from Kastelli to Kastellia. In 1997 under the Capodistrian Plan, it united the older communities into the municipality of Gravia and includes Apostolias
Apostolias
Apostolias is a Greek village in the municipal unit of Gravia, in the northeastern part of Phocis. Its 2001 population was 152. The village was known as Kato Kaniani...
, Gravia (seat), Kaloskopi
Kaloskopi
Kaloskopi is a Greek village in the municipal unit of Gravia, northeastern Phocis, east of the capital Amfissa. The village is also known as Koukouvista . Its 2001 population was 335.-Population:-History:...
, Kastellia, Mariolata, Oinochori
Oinochori
Oinochori is a small village in the municipal unit of Gravia, Phocis. It is located at an altitude of approximately 900 meters on the slope of Mount Oiti. Prior to 1927, Oinochori was known as Ano Kaniani...
, Sklithro and Vargiani. Its economy today are mainly in agriculture.
Kastellia today
Gravia
Gravia is a village and a former municipality in the northeastern part of Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delphi, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 population was 897 for the village and 2,975 for the municipality. The municipal unit...
.
Because of the limited agricultural activity, an Agricultural and Fiduciary Association is presently being housed in a large stone building which is also used as a repository. Originally, in 1910, it operated as the Mutual Association, a co-op which insured against crop and livestock loss. In Chlomos it ran the Rural and Cattle Association for the same purpose. Livestock farming is limited to flocks of sheep, goats and cattle. East of town there is a modern pig farm.
There are many professional craftsmen, such as carpenters, steelworkers, electricians and plumbers. Commercial facilities include supply yards of building materials and earthmoving machinery as well as a modern unit for processing timber. For entertainment purposes there are coffee houses, cafeterias and taverns.
A large number of Kastellians live in Athens, Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, Lamia, Thessaloniki, Amfissa, and Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
, as well as abroad (mainly in America and Australia). Despite the fact that the population is shrinking, a large number of new houses are being built and many older homes are being refurbished.
Cultural Associations
The Progressive Association "Kastellia" which is based in Athens, was founded in 1950 and is a pioneer brotherhood. It's Membership is composed of Kastellians who live outside the area. The Association publishes a newspaper "The Kastelliotika Nea" with news and events related to the town and those who have left. In each of the last 15 years the Association has organized a ceremony where the young people from Kastellia who succeed in the Pan-Hellenic ExaminationsApolytirion
Apolytirio , is the main school-leaving certificate for secondary education in Greece and Cyprus, obtained after successfully completing the third grade of Lyceum In Greece, it is graded on a 20-point scale....
receive a commemorative diploma and a monetary reward. The Association was founded by Ioannis Moscholios.
By a decision of the Amfissa Court (#297/87), the founding statute of the "Kastellia Cultural Association" was approved. Its main aims are: (1) The study and protection of the natural environment of Kastellia. (2) The rediscovery and promotion of the town's cultural heritage. (3) Improving the cultural level of the population. The Cultural Association organizes many cultural events in Kastellia.