Mount Giouchtas

About

The mountain that looks like the face of Zeus.

Giouchtas rises to 811 m just above Archanes, south of Heraklion. Seen from the north, its outline looks like a face lying on its back, and local legend says it is the profile of Zeus, who was buried here according to Cretan tradition.

On the northern summit lie the remains of a Minoan peak sanctuary, one of the most important in Crete, and on the main summit stands the church of Afentis Christos, with a big festival on 6 August. A road climbs almost to the top, and a footpath from Archanes takes about two hours. The view over Heraklion, Knossos and the north coast is wide and beautiful, especially at sunset.

Archanes-Asterousia stretches from the wine villages south of Heraklion, like Archanes and Peza, down to the wild Asterousia mountains and the Libyan Sea. Mount Giouchtas, which looks like the profile of Zeus, rises above Archanes, and the area is rich in Minoan sites. Further south, the Asterousia hide monasteries, gorges and remote beaches such as Treis Ekklisies and Tsoutsouros. The wineries of the Peza area are open for tastings.

Anreise

About 14 km from Heraklion by road.

On the map

35.24100, 25.14500 · See on map