“It is estimated that the population of Prastos in medieval times amounted to 9,000 inhabitants. Prastos then had 9 parishes, 30 churches and intense economic activity. “
Agiopetritis, the protagonist and memoirist of the Struggle, Anagnostis Kontakis, writes that:
“if it were not for Prastos, who fed the army for 4 months, the struggle for freedom would have been lost”.
Prastos is approximately 220 km from E. Venizelos Airport, 72 km from Tripoli, 32 km from Astros and 69 km from Sparta.
To get there you will follow the following routes:
· Astros – Agios Andreas- Prastos (approximately 32 km)
· Tripoli – Astros – Prastos (approximately 72 km)
· Sparta – Kastanitsa – Prastos (approximately 69 km)
From our Municipality
Old capital of Tsakonia. Rich Medieval City.
The lost greatness of the mountain village of Tsakonia is reflected in the song “Tell me where your towers are, where your nobility is”. It is located at an altitude of 750 meters, is 20 kilometers from the village of Agios Andreas, with a difficult route that compensates the visitor with its beauty and its special local architecture. The tower houses are typical in the village and are preserved of Sarantari, Kalimeris, Merikas, Karamanos, Gounelos, while there are remains of Byzantine temples such as Taxiarches, Agios Dimitrios and Panagia which was the Diocese. On the road to the village from Agios Andreas the visitor meets the monastery of Artokosta while one can also see the old monastery of Englestouri (building of 1733). The village is adjacent to the mountainous Korakovouni, while nearby is the gorge of Mazia, where one can see watermills and water mills. There is no tourist infrastructure in the village and so the visitor must find accommodation in other villages of Parnonas. Manolis Dounias came from Prastos and led the Fall of Tripoli in 1821. There is a bust of him in the village.
From the “Mount Parnon and Moustos Wetland Management Agency, 2015. Guide for the protected area of Mount Parnon and Moustos Wetland. Nature, Culture, Ecotourism. Astros of Arcadia “.
Built amphitheatrically on the slope of Mount Parnon, at an altitude of 750 m and at a distance of 30 km from Astros and 20 km southwest of Agios Andreas, is the traditional and preserved settlement of Prastos, the historic capital of Tsakonia from the Middle Ages to 1826. It is a beautiful and picturesque village that charms with its traditional houses, tower houses and churches. Its houses retain the main elements of the local architecture, which is simple and characteristic: arched doors, narrow windows, decorative window, built staircase with high arch, slate slabs and often with strong defensive and fortified elements. From medieval times it was a crowded and prosperous city, full of towers, rich mansions and churches. The choice of the steep location, where the village was built, was mainly due to defensive reasons due to the pirates. Most of the Tsakonian population had settled here, where they maintained their main residence. It is estimated that the population of Prastos in medieval times amounted to 9,000 inhabitants. Prastos then had 9 parishes, 30 churches and intense economic activity.
At that time the maritime trade was flourishing while the trade relations of Prastos had reached as far as Constantinople, Russia, Turkey, Egypt and France. The saying “the city produces white and Prastos makes them castles” is typical. The goods were usually transported by ships from Spetses and Hydra, the main shareholders of which were the merchants from Prastia. In 1826 it was set on fire by Ibrahim and since then it was deserted, when the inhabitants of the village in their attempt to escape fled to Leonidio, “the safe place”, according to Th. Kolokotronis. The prosperity and glamor of the village in the past have left their mark strongly on today. Several old tower houses are preserved with the most characteristic features of Sarantari (one of the best preserved, with a built-in inscription of 1722), Kalimeris, Merika, Karamanos (1788) and Gounelos, built in the second period of Ottoman rule. All are fortified houses with rifles. From the numerous and majestic churches of the heyday, are preserved today and stand out: Taxiarches (18th century), Agios Dimitrios (17th century) and Panagia, old metropolis. Below the old metropolis is the small square of the village, which has recently been renovated. Here is the bust of Prastiotis Manolis Dounias, fighter of 1821 and conqueror of Tripolitsa on September 23, 1821. In the nearby gorge of Mazia there are today the remains of dozens of watermills and water mill, which mark the great prosperity of the village in the past. The memories and nostalgia for this rich and historical past of the village Mr. are also recorded in the Tsakonian folk song: “Prastos me, your towers say and your nobility says!”.
Prastos, who during the period of Ottoman rule was a vilayet (administrative district), actively participated in the Orloff Revolution (1769-1770), as well as in the Klefturia movement. Dozens of Friends from Prastos will contribute decisively to the uprising of the Genos but also to the beginning of the Revolution in the area of Kynouria. Led by Theodoros Goulelos and Giorgakis Manolakis or Michalakis, 250 Prastian warriors set out to occupy the fortress of Monemvasia, of great military importance and invincible, as it was considered. At the same time, the Proestos and Demogerdos of Prastos, in consultation with Kolokotronis and the people of Verveni, Karabela and Kritiko, established in Vervena the famous “Cellar”, ie the chamber of the Army, to supply Prastos with food to the army. , in which many Prastian fighters also participated. Agiopetritis, the protagonist and memoirist of the Struggle, Anagnostis Kontakis, writes that: “if it were not for Prastos, who fed the army for 4 months, the struggle for freedom would have been lost”.
The Prastiotes fighters took part in many battles of the Revolution of 1821. Their contribution to the fall of Tripolitsa was decisive, where Manolis Dounias is considered as its conqueror.
Prastos holds many golden pages in the Revolution of 1821 with invaluable contribution and heroic struggles.Dozens of dignitaries and leaders, chiefs, teachers, clergy, sponsors and hundreds of activists, offered the maximum and contributed decisively to the successful outcome of the Struggle for Freedom. From Prastos start paths and picturesque routes that lead to rich and important cultural and natural monuments. In addition to the traditional festivals of the village during the summer, various cultural events and activities are organized and several tributes to the Tsakonian dialect and tradition.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prastos is a traditional mountain village of Arcadia, built amphitheatrically on the slopes of Mount Parnon at an altitude of 649 meters. It is located 20 km from the village of Agios Andreas.
Administratively it belongs to the Municipality of North Kynouria. In medieval and modern times it was the historic capital of Tsakonia. Even today, the Tsakonian dialect is spoken by the oldest History Prastos is mentioned for the first time in a gold bullion of the emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1293 with the name Proastion.
It succeeded the ancient city of Orion, as it became the seat of the Diocese of Reontos Prastos, thus becoming the largest Tsakonochori. He gained great power and wealth during the Second Ottoman Empire (18th & early 19th century). At that time it is estimated that Prastos had a population of over 6,000 people, 30 churches, 9 parishes, 3 monasteries, 2 castles and several mansions – tower houses. People traveled to Spetses, Hydra, Istanbul and other places and acquired large fortunes.
In 1770, during the Orlofiks, Prastos and the whole of Tsakonia actively participated, led by Nektarios, Metropolitan of Reontos-Prastos, the priest Giannakis Goulenos, the teacher Emmanuel Trochanis and many more. With the founding of the Friendly Society, in 1814, the Prastiotes – Tsakon merchants, began to become members, reaching 10, including the Prastiotis merchant George Panou (Captain Giorgakis), the distinguished Giannoulis Karamanos and many people from surrounding villages. Kastanitsiotes Giannis Kapsampelis and the prostitute Nikolaos Palladas. In 1819, Prastos was separated from the Vilaeti of Agios Petros and became the capital of the Vilaeti of Prastos. This vilayet also included Kastanitsa, Sitaina, today’s Agios Andreas, Korakovouni, the area of Tyros, up to Leonidio.
Prastos also offered a lot during the Revolution of 1821. On March 16, the Prastiotes – Tsakones, proclaim the Revolution in Tsakonia. A few days later, the Prastiotes, under the leadership of Goulenos and Manolakis, started with a body of 250 men to the castle of Monemvasia, where it was captured on July 23, 1821. In addition, their contribution to the Fall of Tripoli was important, with a body of 300 men, united with the bodies of Agiopetrites, under Anagnostis Kondakis, Agiannites, under Panos Zafeiropoulos, Verveniotes, Dolianites and many others. On September 23, 1821, Manolis Dounias from Prasti was the first to enter Tripolitsa, which was besieged for a long time. The Prastiotes successfully participated in other battles (eg Battle of Bervena, Battle of Doliana, etc.). In 1826, Ibrahim Pasha completely destroyed the village. areas. In the following years, Prastos became the capital of the Province of Kynouria and the seat of the municipality of Vrasia.
The village Prastos has beautiful mansions, tower houses and churches, characteristic examples of Tsakonian architecture. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the merchants who were rich in Constantinople, Spetses, Hydra and elsewhere, built great mansions – tower houses, which survive to this day, such as Sarantari (1722), Kalimeris, Merika, Goulenos, Karamanou (1788), by Hadjipanagiotis, but also by the German Deffner. Prastos also has old, important churches, such as Panagia (1762), where it was the Diocese, Agios Dimitrios (17th c.), Taxiarches (17th c.), Agios Nikolaos (17th c.), Profitis Elias , Saint Athanasios (16th century) and others. In the past there were more churches that do not survive today, such as Panagia Stoliotissa, Agia Paraskevi, Agios Georgios and Agios Ioannis.
Near the village are Kastanitsa, Sitaina, the Monasteries of Artokostas, Karya and the ruined monasteries of Agios Dimitrios Reontinos and Prodromos (Englestouri). To the east is Mount Korakovouni. In winter, the village is left with few inhabitants, while in summer it is full of people. It has also been declared a traditional settlement
From the GUIDE FOR THE PROTECTED AREA OF MOUNTAINS PARNONA & WET WET ·
The Tsakonian dialect is spoken:
Leonidio, Pragmatefti, Melana, Tyros, Sapounakeika, Agios Andreas, Prasto, Sitaina, Kastanitsa.
Settlements: Sampatiki, Livadi, Vaskina, Paliochora, Agios Panteleimonas (Fouska), Dernikeika ·
The Tsakonian dialect ·
The Tsakonian dialect, the Tsakonian dance, the costume, the customs and traditions of the Tsakonians, are another dynamic of the Parnon area. According to the “Chronicle of Monemvasia”: “And the prefectures and peasants of Thremte were settled in the rugged places adjacent to it, and finally the jaconia were named”. The Tsakones, as true descendants of the Dorians, kept their roots intact and the Tsakonian language is still the living expression of the Doric dialect. In the cradle of Tsakonia, today insists on walking and creating in the footsteps of yesterday in a perpetual and uninterrupted breath of Greece. ·
The special linguistic treasure of our place. The Tsakonian dialect has been included in the list of endangered languages of UNESCO and is recognized as a cultural achievement and a unique treasure of culture. of farmers. In the wishes, in the greetings, in the curses, in the everyday expressions, in the teasing and the jokes, there is for centuries now the linguistic treasure of the Tsakonians. In this special part of the Greek land called Tsakonia (the cradle of Tsakonia was Prastos, Kastanitsa and Sitaina), in these rugged places, the inhabitants of the area, with few means, not only survived, but left behind a valuable heritage, the Tsakonian tradition, the beautiful language, the unique evocative Tsakonian dance, the Tsakonian songs, the weaving art, their habits, what we call today customs and traditions. All this composes the identity of the place with a living language that is in the hands of the Tsakonians, but also of all Hellenism, to embrace it and protect it from oblivion.
See the link
The Offer of Prastos in the Revolution of 1821 “
This shortage forced the besieged Turks to trade with the Greek besiegers, in order to save food. This fact was taken advantage of by Prastiotis Manolis Dounias and he gained acquaintances, “friendly” relations with the guards of the wall so that, at the critical moment, he could enter the city and open, together with others, the so-called Nafplio Gate, “to be invaded by the Greek warriors, with the first Tsakones-Prastiotes, who had been properly prepared by their leaders, and to occupy Tripoli together in a few hours.”
http://www.prastos.gr/portal.html
http://www.tsakonianarchives.gr/…
astrosgr.com 