Loutra Pozar
Loutrakiu Baths or Loutra Pozar, as they are popularly known, are located at the foot of Mount Voras and are a point of reference for Northern Greece, as they offer relaxation and well-being in a unique natural environment.
The hot thermal springs form natural waterfalls with thermal water, next to the river of Ag. Nikolaou that crosses the whole of Loutropolis and private pools within the Hydrotherapy Centers provide the possibility for therapeutic baths by appointment.
The company
The company provides the possibility to use its facilities 365 days a year. Catering services are provided within Loutropolis, such as a cafe-restaurant, massage and grocery services. The natural environment of Loutra is suitable for hiking and climbing routes, which end at the beginning of a magnificent canyon. There are 15 caves-shelters scattered in the canyon, the most important being the 50-meter-deep cave chasm. Fossils have been found in these caves, which give us evidence of the existence of life thousands of years ago. Excavations carried out by the AUTH have yielded findings, such as part of a 10,000-year-old fossilized skull of a brown bear. These findings are exhibited at the Natural History Museum of Almopia in Aridaia. In 2015 Loutra Pozar joined the European Network of Historical Baths (EHTTA) and is an active member to this day. Inside Loutropolis is the small folklore museum of Loutra where the folklore collection is exhibited and can be visited by the public by appointment.
1. The history of thermal bath therapy
Throughout the centuries, through religions, mythologies and traditions, people have attributed exceptional properties to water. Belief in the superior nature of water had many applications in various rituals, which were often associated with healing practices. This connection was made because people quickly realized that the liquid element could act as a means of relief
2. Facilities
Hydrotherapy centers
The facilities of the Baths have two indoor hydrotherapy rooms and three outdoor facilities. The indoor facilities consist of the first Hydrotherapy Center "Old Hydrotherapy Center", as the Alexandria Hydrotherapy Center is also popularly known. The Alexandria Hydrotherapy Center has 11 swimming pools, which are available privately for appointments. The Old Hydrotherapy Center has 2 swimming pools, 2 hammams, and individual bathtubs, which are available privately for appointments. The outdoor areas feature a large Olympic-sized swimming pool and two natural thermal waterfalls. The water temperature is constant throughout the year at 37 degrees Celsius.
Folklore Museum
Inside Loutropolis is the small folklore museum of Loutra where a folklore collection is exhibited. The museum can be visited after consultation-communication with the company.
Cave park
In the gorge of Loutra there are 15 caves-shelters, which constitute the 1st speleological park in Greece, the most important part is the 50-meter deep Cavern. Fossils have been found in the caves after excavations carried out by the AUTH, which indicate the existence of life since the Neolithic Age. The most important find is part of a 10,000-year-old brown bear fossilized skull. The findings are now exhibited at the Natural History Museum of Almopia in Aridaia accompanied by rich photographic material. The caves are not open to visitors during this period due to danger following the orders of the Antiquities Authority.
Coffee
Inside Loutra, there is the renovated cafe of Loutra with a view of the gorge and the outdoor pool.
Restaurant
The Loutra Restaurant overlooks the Loutra waterfall.
Market
At the entrance of the Baths, the visitor encounters the market of traditional products. Professionals and producers have for sale local products, such as honey, jams, pepper, mountain herbs, cheese, pasta, seasonal fruit and many other products that the visitor can taste and take with him.
Massage
In Loutropolis there are professionals who provide massage services by appointment with them.
Small church of Agios Panteleimon
Inside Loutropolis there is the small church of A. Panteleimon of the Spa. The chapel is dedicated to St. Panteleimon who is the protector and healer of the sick and for this reason he is also called Healer.
3. Activities
The Pozar Baths are a four-season destination as they operate all year round, are accessible by road and the activities that visitors can combine in the area beyond bathing are horse riding, hiking, visiting local wineries, massage services, skiing in winter months while during the year various festivals are organized, such as the Pozar Music Festival of the Loutraki Youth Association (every July), Wine Festival (every May), festive events (Christmas, Halloween) but also various sports activities, such as road races and Half Marathon (every September) with visitors from Greece and abroad. Especially during the winter season there are many events of local products in the wider area, which are organized by local associations and aim to bring visitors into contact with local customs and products such as the chestnut festival, the tsipouro festival, the Karatsovite pepper festival, the Christmas sourva and many other traditional and cultural events.
The occasion was an article by the American magazine Vogue, where, among all the suggested destinations in northern Greece, except for Thessaloniki, Kavala, Nymphaeum and Zagori, the reader's eye "falls" on the photo depicting the thermal baths of Almopia ..
Alison Beckner
The best gift we can give ourselves, to cure chronic diseases or simply to relax. The most beautiful natural environment of hot springs in Greece is that of the Pozar baths (meaning "under the fire"), 13 kilometers outside of Aridaia Pella. The Pozar baths are recommended for rheumatism, arthritis, etc.
Kostas Koukoumakas
The area
At a distance of 13 km. From the headquarters of the Municipality of Almopia, Aridaia and 100 km. from Thessaloniki, in a beautiful location, covering an area of 72 acres, are the Baths of Loutraki or Loutra Pozar Almopia, as they are popularly known. Their name comes from the words “po” and “zar”, which mean “under the fire”. It is a place rich in vegetation, natural harmony and many unique beauties. This special landscape combines the uniqueness and grandeur of a natural wonder: a ravine has been created in a majestic, rocky mountain and the Thermopotamos flows through it, forming small waterfalls and shallow beds on the banks.
The geyser is created by springs that spring up at an altitude of 360-390 meters and are created by rainwater that seeps into the ground, reaches a great depth, and after being heated rises higher enriched with minerals and other beneficial ingredients.
The intense natural relief dominates the area and human interventions have been carried out with a view to the minimum possible changes in the sculpture of the landscape. To serve the bathers, individual baths, indoor group pools and an open pool of Olympic dimensions have been created on a specially designed plateau parallel to the river. Walking, climbing and other sports activities are allowed thanks to the bridges and paths that have been shaped and follow the topography of the terrain. Some of them end up in the caves that surround the spa town and constitute the first speleological park in Greece.
Loutra Pozar is a destination that harmoniously combines two of the basic elements of Greek nature: Earth carved by time and running water that springs from six springs and is famous for its healing properties.
