There are small natural paradises very close to the urban centers, “hidden” in the heart of a settlement, the search for which requires a little more patience, maybe a lot of imagination, but mainly good communication with the locals. The village of Mischos belongs to this category, with its beautiful environmental path, just thirteen minutes from the city of Komotini.
Along the route that leads to Mischos, either from Iasmos or from Komotini, the anxious traveler will find several information signs that will direct him to the village. Unfortunately, he will not find anyone who will inform him how to visit the environmental path of incredible natural beauty that crosses the small river Aspropotamos with the stone watermill dominating its riverbed and the artificial waterfalls at the end of the route.
The route to the village of Mischos, either from Komotini or from Xanthi, through Iasmos, is easy along the Egnatia road or from asphalt provincial roads, with Mount Papikio proudly popping up at every turn of the road.
As the educator and researcher Dimitris Gagalidis explains, speaking to APE-MPE. “In Byzantine times, Mount Papikio was a” monastic state “. Today there are many ruins and remains of temples and settlements (Poa, Kerasia), while dirt roads lead the visitor to forgotten villages and places “.
“One of the gateways to Mount Papikio”, he continues, is the village of Mischos. It is located on the slopes of Rodopi and in the wider area of ​​Kerasochoria. It is a very picturesque minority village, with very hospitable inhabitants, characterized since 1978 as a traditional settlement. It is located northwest of the plain of Komotini, at a distance of 14 km from Iasmos, which is the seat of the homonymous municipality, to which this small community now belongs administratively “.
The torrent Aspropotamos (ancient Travos) starts from Mischos and its wider area, which flows into Lake Vistonida, while in the north the southern foothills of Mount Papiki begin. To the south of the village and in the direction of the Egnatia Road, immediately after the railway line, is the archeological site of Maximianoupolis – Mosinoupolis which was an important center of Thrace in the 4th century AD. and in which there are important finds, such as an early Christian cemetery, a rectangular fortification wall and tomb inscriptions.
Asking you go … on the path
A reference point for Mischos and a starting point for the visitor to discover the environmental path is the large mosque at the entrance of the village. Asking the locals one can be informed that behind the mosque there is a small square ideal for parking the car. From there begins a very passable dirt road that leads to the beautiful environmental path, lost in the dense foliage of age-old plane trees, in spring and summer.
But also in winter, the almost eerie landscape fascinates the visitor, who at the beginning of the route can sit on the large stones, enjoy the view or take photos of the river, admiring the old watermill. As he walks more and more in the path, his gaze will be piqued by the two artificial waterfalls that create small pedestals, offering infinite coolness in summer.
However, it is worth walking over the environmental path, at the entrance of the village, and through the impressive cypress trees to reach almost to the springs of Aspropotamos. Throughout this quest, the traveler will find magical glades and fairytale corners of nature beauty giving him peace, balance and a unique sense of freedom.
In spring and summer, there are two taverns in the village, which have become famous for the delicious traditional dishes and grilled meats they serve.
If one visits Mischos from the road of Xanthi and through Iasmos, it is worth a stop at the bridge of the river Kompsatos. As he walks in the riverbed he can admire the high mountains, feel the majesty of nature and the power of the liquid element.
From Mischos, the route continues further east, to reach Komotini from the area of ​​Democritus University (DUTH) and the village of Hephaestus. A stop at the headquarters of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is considered necessary for a coffee in the beautiful square or for oriental delicacies in the taverns and restaurants of the area, while a walk to its famous patisseries for the established soutzouk loukoum and fine si is necessary.
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