The best MTB trails in Περισυνάκη - Αγριοκεφάλα - Μανίκα Δήμου Σφακίων

The Gefyra Taverna Cafe - Anyone who has experienced the special atmosphere of the tavern once will gladly return. Separated only by a road, it is idyllically situated on the Megalopotamos, opposite the Turkish bridge. You sit under trees, there is no indoor dining area. The food is incredibly delicious, the prices absolutely reasonable. The waiters and waitresses are very friendly and helpful.

The road is beautifully laid out, has wonderful views, and is not very busy, but with gradients of up to 19%, it's not for everyone ;-)

The history of Georgioupolis dates back to antiquity, when the region was settled by the Minoans and later by the Romans. However, the present town was only founded in the late 19th century and named after Prince George of Greece, who was High Commissioner of Crete at the time. Originally a small fishing village, Georgioupolis began to develop as a tourist destination in the 1960s, thanks to its idyllic location and the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

The chapel is only accessible on foot and not by bicycle.

Lake Kournas is the only natural freshwater lake on the Greek island of Crete. It lies in western Crete, near the north coast and close to Georgioupolis. The lake's outflow empties into the Mediterranean Sea at Georgioupolis. Water turtles, snakes, and various dragonfly species live here. There are many tavernas around the lake; in winter, they are usually open on Sundays.

Quäldich Pass Description: Southern Ascent from Kapsodasos 6.7 km | 643 m elevation gain | 9.6% (~10.4%) The southern ascent begins in the village of Kapsodasos at an altitude of approximately 100 m. The turnoff to Kallikratis is signposted (as of 2018 on a very weathered sign). The route initially heads north for a little over half a kilometer before a veritable hairpin bend festival unfolds over the next five kilometers. The road winds its way up a barren rocky slope via a total of 27 hairpin bends. There is virtually no vegetation along the route, which has its own charm and offers consistently wonderful views, especially of the hairpin bends already conquered and the Libyan Sea shimmering in the distance. The gradient is inconsistent over these first 5.5 kilometers, averaging just over 10%, but quite steep. In addition to battling the steep incline, the author also encountered a rather strong headwind on the ascent, which swept down the slope and added to the effort. After completing the switchbacks, the worst is over, and the route continues relatively flat for half a kilometer northwards before the remaining 700 meters to the highest point of the route, where the final meters of elevation gain must be conquered at a manageable gradient. Once at the top, the route descends for about a kilometer, followed by a gentle climb of almost three kilometers towards Kallikrátis. From there, however, more elevation gain awaits, as one must either tackle the easy western ascent to the Bourolos Pass or the 560-meter climb of the eastern ascent to the Asfendos Pass. Northern Ascent 1 km | 64 m elevation gain | 6.4% (~8.8%)

Quäldich Pass Description: The Kallikratis-Kapsodasos Pass lies not far from the south coast of Crete, between Kapsodasos and Kallikratis. As is often the case in Crete, there is unfortunately no pass sign and therefore no official name for the crossing. It is also not marked on local maps. The owner of Olympic Bike in Rethymnon informed the author that the crossing is known locally as the Kapsodasos Pass, or simply Kapsodasos Pass, based on the starting point of the southern ascent. Elsewhere, it is referred to as the Kallikratis Climb. We cannot and do not wish to commit to a definitive name. This is not a pass in the conventional sense, as the road does not connect two valleys, but rather leads from the south coast parallel to a gorge, climbing a slope into the island's interior. However, like a pass, it does cross a high point. Consequently, the southern ascent can involve a considerable amount of elevation gain, while the northern ascent involves only a slight difference in altitude. As of 2018, the entire route is in excellent condition and has a much better road surface than the surrounding roads. Only in the lower section of the southern approach were there occasionally some stones on the road, which only required extra caution on the descent. Furthermore, the road is mostly single-lane, hardly used, and therefore a real pleasure to drive.

In 1770, Ioannis Vlachos (Ιωάννης Βλάχος), known as Daskalogiannis (Δασκαλογιάννης), the leader of the Cretan rebels, was captured by Ottoman soldiers in Frangokastello. He was executed the following year on June 17, 1771, in Kandiye, present-day Heraklion.