Parnitha (west side of Athens) is a diverse group of peaks with very rich fauna and flora. Karavola is the highest peak (1,413 meters) while sixteen more peaks are above 1000 meters high. The forest is mainly comprised of firs and pines but there are also many other trees and plants which provide food and shelter for the animals that live on the mountain. Approximately 1100 plant species are recorded and 90 of these are Greek endemics. The establishment of the Parnitha National Park in 1961 helped the conservation of the biodiversity of the mountain. In the past you could find bears, wild boars and wolves, but they no longer exist on the mountain. Also, there was a large population of deer in Parnitha and many still remain in the region, despite the disastrous fire of 2007 that burnt more than 2/3 of the fir forest causing a huge change in the ecosystem. On the southwest side, at Goura stream a cave was discovered in the 19th century. Based on the findings it appears to have been a place of worship of Pan and the Nymphs. From the fragments of lamps that were found there, the cave got its name “Lychnospilia” (= Cave of the Lamps) or Cave of Pan.
Acharnes, Fyli, Afidnes, Dhekelia are some of the settlements known since ancient times. However, Arvanites (the main inhabitants of the area during the 15th century) renamed the areas to Menidi, Chassia, Kiourka etc. Parnitha is Attica’s stronghold from the west. The mountain has been associated with wars in ancient times but also with periods of agitation in modern history. It functioned as a resistance shelter during the period of occupation by the German troops who burned a part of the mountain to protect themselves against the attacks.
There are two shelters in Parnitha, Bafi and Flambouri, which serve coffee and food. Mont Parnes, Parnitha’s luxury hotel on the top of Mavrovouni, was founded in 1961. It now operates as a casino. You can access the casino either by following the road from Metochi or by cable car starting at the foot of the mountain and going all the way up.
