Strongholds of Flavor
The route covers 145 kilometers and takes about 3 hours by car or motorcycle, without stops. Visitors may travel part of it or interrupt and continue on another day. It is suitable all year round and is ideal for travelers interested in gastronomy, wine tasting, culture, nature, the environment, and outdoor activities such as hiking, mountaineering, and cycling.
This 3-hour journey leads visitors through the lesser-known yet unique landscapes of Kilkis. From the town itself, with the impressive Cave of Saint George, to the forested slopes of Paiko Mountain and the turquoise waters of the Blue Lake at Skra, the route is spectacular, combining nature, history, and flavor.
The region’s gastronomy bears the deep imprint of refugees from Pontus and Asia Minor. Pontic varenika filled with potato or cheese, or stuffed manti with minced meat and yogurt, arrive on the table fragrant with melted butter and paprika. Crispy piroshki filled with potato or cheese fit every occasion, while the savory saragli with minced meat encapsulates the wisdom of a cuisine that learned to create with simple, fresh, and honest ingredients.
Goumenissa, a hidden gem at the foothills of Paiko, produces exceptional wines that pair beautifully with dishes such as clay-baked giouvetsi or wild boar stifado infused with the scents of the forest. Also renowned are the handmade pork sausages, seasoned with local spices and garlic, the potatoes of Megala Livadia, and the chestnuts of Paiko. Only here, on Paiko’s slopes, grows Greece’s most delicious cherry variety, the famous mountain “Roupka”.
Further north, Skra enchants with waterfalls and the emerald-green lake, offering an unforgettable swimming experience in a pristine environment full of hiking trails and cool mountain air, while the Monument and Museum of the historic battle stir deep emotions. Metalliko, with its therapeutic springs, the Old Gynaikokastro with its Byzantine fortress, and the chestnut villages of Kastaneri and Griva form a rare mosaic where cultural and rural heritage meets flavor at local tavernas and authentic hospitality in hotels and guesthouses—especially in Axioupoli, Polykastro, Goumenissa, and of course, in Kilkis itself.
From cheeses such as Batzos, Manouri, and Tsiortania, made from high-quality cow’s and goat’s milk, to the cherries of Filyria and the honey of Gerakonas, this route invites you to discover, taste, and take home the region’s local products, and to experience the heartfelt welcome of the motherland that nourishes, inspires, and moves.
Route Products
PDO Products: Batzos cheese, Feta, Kasseri, Manouri (Central Macedonia)
PGI Products: Wines of Paiko Slopes, Wines of Macedonia
Specialties: Chestnuts of Paiko, Kastaneri, and Griva; Local sausages; Potatoes of Megala Livadia; Tsiortania cheese; Cherries of Filyria; Roupka cherries of Paiko; Honey of Gerakonas; Pontic pasta
Route Delicacies
Potato Piroshki: A beloved, crispy snack that wins with its simplicity and flavor. Fluffy, yeasted dough is filled with sautéed potatoes, onion, and dill, seasoned with oregano, and fried in hot oil until golden. Perfect as a side dish or a main snack.
Sausage with Trachanas: A traditional dish that showcases authentic taste and skill. Red trachanas, cooked with onion and olive oil, provides a rich base, complemented by local sausages fried and cut into pieces, then stirred into the soup. Served hot on cold evenings, it pairs perfectly with a glass of Goumenissa wine.
Wine-Braised Wild Boar with Chestnuts and Paiko Potatoes: A genuine mountain dish, cooked slowly and with care to highlight its artistry and flavor. The meat is marinated overnight in local red wine with onion and parsley, then seared in olive oil until crusted, before being gently simmered with wine, spices, and chestnuts from Paiko. Ideal for festive tables, it is best served with Paiko potatoes—roasted or mashed—and of course, fine wine from Goumenissa.