About Serres

The Region of Serres

Wonderful mountains, historical and religious monuments, paleontological findings, waters, forests, bridges, caves with paintings from the Neolithic era, warm natural springs, a nature that is changing season by season, rich gastronomy, consisting an endless spectrum of sights and experiences at Serres.

The county of Serres is among the 7 regions of Central Macedonia, extended from Strymonikos bay to the south, up to the Greek-Bulgarian border to the North. The 48% of the region is mainly agricultural, which determines the main occupation of its inhabitants and is crossed throughout by Strymon river which the springs found in Bulgaria. In the area there are many archaeological and historical sites including the city of Serres, Amphipolis, several old monasteries and the fort Ruppel near the Greek-Bulgarian border. Favorite attractions of Serres region are the Amphipolis, Lailias forest, Lake Kerkini (Narura 2000), the village of Ano Poroia and the unique Alistrati cave.

Serres across time

The rich history of Serres starts in Mythical times and continues up today, left behind monuments from all historical periods: Archaic, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Balkan Wars, the 1st & 2nd World Wars etc. Archaeological research has revealed remains of human settlement around 3,000 years BC. In 437 BC during the Athenian colonization was founded Amphipolis, and in 357 BC Philip II of Macedon has conquered the city and made it part of the Kingdom of Macedonia. It is from Amphipolis where Alexander the Great started his epic expedition to conquering Asia. Then Serres came under the Romans who established “via Egnatia” to connecting the East to the West. During the Byzantine period lots of marvelous churches and monasteries established, so that Serres to be called as “Great and wonderful city.” On 1204 until 1230 passed to the Franks, then conquered by the Bulgarian, and between 1383-1913 was under the Ottomans. Several Ottoman monuments dated from the 15th century, which are considered among the oldest in Europe. During the 2nd World War Serres conquered by the Germans, who failed to “break” the defense line of the fortresses of Ruppel and who later admired the guards of Roupel as heroes for their heroism about protecting Greece.