Koumos Stone Huts and Cypress Grove near Gavalochori
Koumos Stone Huts and Cypress Grove near Gavalochori
Koumos Stone Huts and Cypress Grove near Gavalochori
Hiking Highlight (Segment)
Recommended by 9 out of 10 hikers
Location: Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Χανίων, Greece
Best Hiking Routes to Koumos Stone Huts and Cypress Grove near Gavalochori
Tips
Above Gavalochori, the path to Xirosterni leads through a cypress grove (probably more recent), which is divided by countless quarry stone walls. In between you can see some dome-shaped stone huts, covered with small corbelled vaults, some of which have collapsed naturally. In Crete they are called "koumos" and they are mainly found (usually much larger) in the mountainous regions, where they served the shepherds as seasonal dwellings and even cheese factories (μιτάτα). These are probably simple bad-weather shelters, but they remain a bit mysterious.
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•March 23, 2023
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