Train and Rail Travel in Macedonia Northern Greece Page 10 (see Greece train map)

There's a stop at Mouries; the stop at the Kastanonoussa rail saton near the Dova Tepea Pass (278meters) with extensive views of rolling plain, though after the Rodhopolis station the line enters wide alpine meadows. This little town is populated by Bulgarians and Macedonian Greeks. Next comes Livadhia and marshy land irrigated by the Koumoulis River; Mandraki, and a valley drained by the Strymon River, which is dammed further south, man-made Lake Kerkinis (visible on the right), the villages of Akritohori,Vironia, Neo Petritisi; then the line crosses the Strymon and curves southeast. The line to Sofia leaves here, heading towards the mountain border.

Sidherokastro, with a population of around 7,000, means 'Iron Castle'; its Turkish name is Demir Hisar. It is situated at the bottom of a hill with a 14th century Byzantine citadel. Bulgarian, Turkish, and Greek are all spoken here (and even some Russian). Though there are a couple of hotels here, this is a place not visited by many foreign travellers.

The line from here continues towards the southeast through big cotton fields.near the villages of Kamaroton, Gefyroudhi and Skotoussa, beyond which is the Strymon River valley. The villages of Kala Dhendra and Mitroussi lead to ancient Serres.

Serres

The modern town of Serres has a population of around 55,000, and is an important commercial center. After liberation from the Turks in 1913, the Bulgarians burned it to the ground and there was a serious fire in 1949. The Greek Archaeological Service has since restored the 12th century Cathedral of St. Thodoris and the church of Aghios Nikolaos which is on the ancient acropolis. Byzantine gates and walls have been unearthed, as well as parts of the aqueduct; there are some mosques, and the old big brick Turkish market now houses the Archaeological museum. There is a Sarakatsani folk museum, dedicated to this ancient nomadic pastoral culture. Serres is definitely worth a visit.

Serres - Drama

The area to the east of Serres is known as East Macedonia-a hilly region cut by the Strymon river and its tributaries on their way to the sea. The Nestos River on its eastern most eddge forms the border with Greek Thrace. The train passes through the hills of Dafnoudi, Vertiskos and Kerdilia; beyond the villages of Dimitra and Lefkothea it goes under three covered galleries and into the Petras Defile before crossing over the Angiti River. At this point the Serres nomos is left behind and the line enters the Drama nomos. Mt. Falakros (Bald Mountain) looms on the left and from the village of Photolivos, the line enters the plain of Drama.

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