Empesos, Aitoloakarnania

Empesos is a semi-mountainous village in the Regional Unit of Aitoloakarnania at an altitude of 300 meters [1].

Geography - Sights

Empesos is located on the northern border with the Regional Unit of Evritania and the Regional Unit of Arta, at a distance of 41 km NE. of Amfilochia and 51 km SE. from Arta. It is built next to and east of the Inachos river in the homonymous valley, between the mountains of Kalana, Mitseli and Zygos. Its inhabitants are engaged in agriculture (corn, clover and vegetables) and livestock (sheep and goats). In the village there is the Educational & Cultural Association of Empesos which was founded in 1984 and organizes every year the 5 / day cultural events "IDOMENIA" [3], while in Athens since 1991 the Association of Empesiotes "O 'Agios Thomas" [4]. The most important sights of the village and the surrounding area are:

South of the village at the top of the hill with the toponym "Kastro" (altitude 600 meters) there are ruins of a medieval castle. The location is suitable for controlling the strait between the mountain peaks of Kalana and Alinda. Access is only on foot. It is probable that Charles II Tokkos, the "last defender of Acarnania when the Turks invaded" (see Tokkos House), remained in it.
To the north, at a distance of 3 km, there is the monastery of St. Thomas, which was built at the beginning of the 18th century by Captain Stathas, a boatman of Valtos. The katholikon is made of stone with a three-aisled roof and an octagonal dome. In its eastern part is the "Cave of St. Thomas" where, according to local tradition, the icon of the Saint was found. Above the cave there is a special area with a panoramic view of the area called "The Agnantema of Captain Stathas" [6].
The Folklore-Historical Museum in the stone-built "Old School" (building of 1916), which presents exhibits of everyday life from a traditional house and its household (looms, textiles, clothing, embroidery, coins, agricultural and livestock items, etc. .).
The paragliding paragliding track with a take-off position on Mount Kalana in the southeast of the village. It is located at an altitude of 650 meters and the weather conditions of the area allow for flights almost all year round. High-level races have been held with great success for windsurfers. [7] [8]

History - Administration

Historically and culturally, it belongs to the villages of Ano Valtos and was an important town in the area. The original location of the village, during the Turkish occupation, was a little north of today. After the liberation, in 1841 it is officially mentioned in the Government Gazette 5A - 08/03/1841 to be annexed to the then municipality of Idomeni. In 1854 the seat of the municipality of Idomeni was designated. In 1924, with the Government Gazette 205A - 26/08/1924, the community of Empesos was established with its seat in the settlement [9]. In the 1980s, under a neighborhood settlement program (Skantzokambos, Grammatsouli, Sykia, Paliaria, Dineri), Empesos began to take its current form, so it consists of new and modern houses. According to the Kallikratis plan, together with Skatzokambos, Grammatsouli, Sykea and Ftelia constitute the Local Community of Empesos which belongs to the Municipal Unit of Inachos of the Municipality of Amfilochia and according to the 2011 census the community has a population of 531 inhabitants, while as a settlement 444 [10].

External links

Empesos Valtou for paragliding enthusiasts at https://www.youtube.com
Folklore - Historical Museum of Empesos from the website http://www.520greeks.com

References

Encyclopedia Nea Domi. Tegopoulos - Maniateas. 1996. p. 267, vol. 11.
iAitoloakarnania.gr (May 14, 2018). "Empesos: A beautiful and picturesque village in the" heart "of Valtos". iAitoloakarnania. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
"MORPHOTIC & CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF TRADE". Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
"Association of Empesiotes" Saint Thomas "". Hellenic Folklore Research Center of the Academy of Athens. August 25, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2019. [dead link]
Papathanassiou, Manolis. "Empesos Castle". Castrologist. It was archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
Admin. "Tribute to Saint Thomas Empesou". AMFILOCHIA. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
"On-line Tourist Guide of the Swamp of Etoloakarnania. bivalve vangelis ". www.valtosprovince.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
Stergiopoulos, Vangelis (September 20, 2018). "Empesos of Etoloakarnania, a place loved by parapente lovers". in.gr. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
"EETAA-Hellenic Society of Local Development and Local Government SA". www.eetaa.gr. Retrieved July 20, 2019. [dead link]
"Government Gazette of permanent Population Results", p. 10715 (p. 241 of pdf)