The Belles waterfall is located on Mount Belles in the prefecture of Kilkis, Greece. And it is a well-hidden secret of the region, known and visited mainly by hikers and local residents.
The word Belles is of Slavic origin and means “white”.
But let’s say a few words about the unknown to many, Mount Belles. Mount Belles with an altitude of 2.031m. is the natural border with the Greek border, the border of the Skopje side and further east with Bulgaria. The foothills of the mountain have rich vegetation, but the top is completely bare.
First acquaintance with Mount Belles.
You can combine your hike on Mount Belles with an excursion to Lake Doirani or Lake Kerkini. From the prefecture of Kilkis, you can visit the Belles waterfall.
To get to the Belles Waterfall, we leave Kilkis following the provincial road Serres-Promahonas until we reach the sign for the village of c. On entering the village, we head towards the beautiful Mouries railway station, which was opened in 1900.
From the Mouries train station we follow an asphalt road heading north to the camps of the Metropolis of Polyanis and Kilkis. From there you have to be careful, the road is very steep and rocky and unless you have an SUV or even better a 4×4 we would say don’t try to go further than the first rest area you come across.
Hiking at the foothills of Mount Belles.
We park the SUV in a safe place so we can return to the Recreation Park, which I can say has been in better condition in the past. We start hiking the nearby trails along the creek. Mt. Belles has a distinct wild beauty, with lush vegetation. The trees here are tens, even hundreds of years old. Plane trees, chestnuts, oaks and beeches are all along the trail.
The mountain is an important habitat and has been proposed to be declared a National Park.
This particular route to the foothills is not very difficult and is pleasant even for a small child, as it is relaxing without any danger.
Don’t dare to explore the unknown aspects of Mount Belles alone. It is better to have a guide with you.
Mount Belles is home to rare bird species such as golden eagles, king eagles, kingfishers, screech owls, snake eagles, buzzards, jays, snipes, woodpeckers, owls, woodpeckers and many more. Of course, there is no shortage of mammals in the area. There are squirrels, wolves, foxes, rabbits and of course lots of wild boar. A little caution when visiting the mountain, it is advisable to avoid the hunting season.
Belles Waterfall
The Belles or Mouries waterfall is, as we said, a well-hidden gem of Mount Belles. The water of the waterfall flows all year round from a stream that originates from Mount Belles at an altitude of about 1450m, while the base of the waterfall is located at an altitude of 730m. The height of the waterfall reaches 18 meters. The stream then heads south, joins the other streams in the area and flows into Lake Doirani.
The trail is passable for the first 500m as they have built a paved path through the trees with some wooden structures – shelters. However, in the last 200m the path narrows and there are more stones, but it is not rough. The sight of the Belles waterfall in front of you will definitely make up for it.
Lunch at “To Patriko” in Kavalari
After such a beautiful hike, the Belles Waterfall will surely whet your appetite. And we recommend a special place for lunch. Take the road that leads to the small village of Kavalari, built at the foot of Mount Belles. There you will find the tavern “To Patriko”. If the weather is good, you can sit outside in the courtyard or on a small plateau with a small stream running through it.
When it’s cold, it’s even better to warm up by the fireplace. The interior of the parsonage is like a small art studio. Beautiful works of art on canvas and wooden surfaces blend harmoniously with the furniture. In one corner you will also see several homemade spoon sweets and jams, which are also for sale.
At “To Pratriko” you will eat delicious homemade food, with produce grown in the family garden. If you are lucky, you might even get some Czech dishes, as Mrs. Elli is from there. Her grilled meats are delicious, and of course you get a plate of freshly cut potatoes and freshly fried eggs to start.
A stop for a walk at Lake Doirani
Before returning home, we follow the coastal road for 7km, passing the 1000 trees point of interest at Lake Doirani. The view of the lake compensates us again, where we make our favorite stop to enjoy the view of the lake between the borders.
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