Mount Taygetos is the highest mountain in the Peloponnese named according to legend after Taygeti the nymph daughter of Atlas.

The range seperated the two cities of Messinia and Sparta and it was on the Spartan slopes that according to legend young babies were left overnight to see if they would survive to become Spartan warriors.

The two city states fought for over four centuries with Sparta finally achieving victory.

The ancient Greeks believed that the goddess Artemis, lived and hunted with her golden horned deer in the mountain range.

In ancient times the Melengi, doric and laconian tribes made their homes on Taygetos.

Taygetos, the mountain range has a length of 115 km and a width of 30 km in all a total area of 2500 sq km. It is divided into three areas, north Taygetos, central Taygetos and Mount Tainaros. 

The mountain has over 11 peaks but their are five higher peaks nicknamed the five fingers.

The highest peak is Profitis Ilias at 2407 m,  on the very peak there is a church and on the evening of the 19th of  July this peak can house a thousand or more people gathered there to celebrate.

The range has four climate zones, the highest, the alpine zone (2000 m plus) is covered for over five months of the year by snow. Here you will find the rarest of the plants that grow on Taygetos violets,cress and the Juniper.

The sub alpine zone (1650-2000 m)has regular snowfalls until around April only small plants grow here, nettles and dwarf pines and fir trees but here we also have an excellent tea (green mountain tea) which is used locally for many ailments  when mixed with honey or whiskey for colds and as an excellent refreshing drink. It is also used to calm down the nerves.

The mountainous zone (800-1650 m)  has plenty of rain and snow until the spring and here we will find the conifer forests, the Greek fir and the black pine. Vassiliki forest is a fine example. Some of these trees are between 300 and 500 years old, the remnants of the ancient Taygetos forest. Sadly these trees are the casualties in the forest fires that break out and 2007 was a bad year for the fires. Here we will also find Anemones, lillies, wild roses and geraniums.

The lower slopes (700-800 m) are drier and summer here can last from spring until  late October at this level we find a greater variety of trees Oaks, Maples, Carob trees, wild cherry, Juniper, Judas trees and Cypress. Beneath the trees we will find Anemones, wild tulips and daisies.

Taygetos was once the home to the brown bear, deer, boars,  wolves and the lynx. Today these mammals have migrated to the forests of Northen Greece but they have left behind the badger, the fox, the pine marten, hedgehogs, rabbits and the occasional wild cat.

Keep a look out also for the tortoise, crossing the tracks in stately if somewhat slow fashion.

There are many types of lizard to be found, keep an eye out for the fire Salamander with its  spectacular black and gold colouring.

 Those with an eye for the birdlife should keep an eye open for falcons, goshawks and wood peckers. There is also a large variety of owls for those who stay overnight.

There are recorded, over 100 different species of butterfly to be found on Taygetos including the well known Taygetos blue.

It is said the engineer who designed the  ancient pyramids was a Greek, who gained his inspiration from the top of Mount Taygetos whilst gazing out across the sea. This was the vision that inspired him.

Gorges

There are many fine gorge walks on Taygetos and here we have a selection.

The Koskara gorge starts  from Neraidouni  and joins the Rindomo brook,   after the village of Pighadia becomes the Avouros brook it descends past the ancient bridge at Toubia and then becomes the Koskara Gorge proper, this will then take you down to the coast at Sandavas.

The Viros gorge at 20 km long starts in the beautiful Vassiliki forest ad winds its way down to the sea at Kardamyli.

The Noupanti gorge originates at Mavrovouna (1909 m) by passes the Vaidenitsa monastery and the tower of Kitrimiori and the village of Prasilio and enters the sea at Foneas.

The Steperi gorge  commences at Kariouvouni and passes the villages of Eleochori and Ano Riglia before descending on the picture postcard beach of  Pantazi

 The  Kalamata Mountaineering society.

 For more information www.eoskal.gr