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Living heritage

The relationships between the architecture of the villages and the landscape, as well as the rural heritage and the traditions associated with them (dry-stone masonry, nomadic livestock, sacred forests) are key attributes that demonstrate the integrity of the property.

It is also clear that the specific characteristics of the traditional villages have maintained their integrity thanks to the isolation of the area, the mild economic activities implemented to date, and the protective framework established in time by the Greek State.

Zagorochoria is a rare example of authenticity and well-preserved traditional settlements in a remote agro-pastoral landscape and a rich natural environment.

The strict institutional framework for the protection of cultural heritage, the preservation of the use of stone and wood as the predominant building materials, as well as the restrictions on building regulations have contributed significantly to the preservation of the authentic character of the settlements. Moreover, traditional craftsmanship together with the use of authentic techniques and materials have never ceased to be applied – even in modern constructions – and have played an important role in the sustainable management of natural resources.

Among the rich variety of vegetation there are small country churches on the borders of the settlements and sacred forests, which are locally referred to as ecclesiastica, vakufika, kouri or livadia.

These have been preserved as certain uses are not permitted or were conditionally allowed when the community and the Church were in consensus and continue to be protected through supernatural beliefs. These forests protect settlements from landslides, rock falls or avalanches, preserve the underground aquifer and in the past also acted as reserves, usually serving emergency needs of communities. At the same time, they are considered as “ornaments” of the settlements. They have an aesthetic as well as a religious function since they are places of recreation, pilgrimage and places of worship. Since 2015, the sacred forests of the villages of Zagori and Konitsa are included in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage as locally adapted management systems and are considered extremely valuable elements that “bind” the natural and cultural heritage of the place

The agro-pastoral landscape was shaped by the inhabitants, who lived permanently in the mountainous area as, as it is expected, not all Zagorisians travelled. The agricultural dimension of Zagori revolves around the axes of mountain farming by using terraces and the economy of self-sufficiency.

The small productive parts of the fragmented mountainous area were used to the last inch in order for production to reach the limits of selfsufficiency. The agricultural model of survival in the mountain area chosen by the Zagorisians was accompanied by smallscale livestock farming. Each family had a small number of sheep and goats as part of the self-sufficiency system, which were kept domestically in winter. The mountain pastures were suitable for supporting large numbers of goats and sheep, so the communities reached agreements with the large-scale livestock farmers of Epirus. From the 19th century onwards, the Sarakatsanoi have exclusively become an integral part of the population of the central and western part of Zagori. Their tseligkato steadily rented the mountain pastures of Tymfi and the same families returned seasonally.

Moreover, special mention should be made of the group of the so-called Vikogiatroi, who, as chiropractors, inspired by the biodiversity of the region, developed herbal medicine and provided their services in various regions of the Ottoman Empire.
The unique geological history of the area result in an extremely wide variety of flora and fauna
More about the natural environment