Gavaliotissa Forest – Thousand Pines

The Forest of Gavaliotissa, also known as Thousand Pines, is located northeast of Edessa, at a distance of about 1.5 km. from the city centre. This forest is home to the Edessa Naturalist Club, an association founded in 1967 and housed in a privately owned building near the Gavaliotissa Amphitheatre. The building was renovated and extended in the 1970s in order to operate as a Tourist Pavilion due to its strategic location. Although its operation was suspended in 2013, during its active period it hosted a restaurant, a leisure centre and events.

Along the Edessa-Aridea road there is a boat of the Air Force’s demonstration group AKROTIM, dedicated to the Edessa pilots, as well as a bicycle-memorial in honor of the fallen cyclists of the region.

The area of Chilia Pefka includes a sports centre with basketball and volleyball courts, as well as an MTB cycling track. The forest is crossed by a railway line and has a number of hiking trails leading to important places such as Kissochori, Ancient and Medieval Edessa, Agios Loukas, path 606 and Pyrsos.

In addition, the area is a centre of activity, hosting annual cycling competitions and a variety of cultural events, attracting visitors and locals alike.