Paphos Life

We recently did a blog on the abandoned village Vretsia. Until recently, a tavern still operated there. Unfortunately, last summer it appears to have burnt down. It is now a very eerie place to visit...

Read the article and chat about it below...

What a shame! When we first discovered Vretsia it was completely by accident as we came in from the venetian bridge and along the old camel trail completely scaring us all to death but the men who are both photographers found it worthwhile once we arrived as they both had some competition winners from there.

It was the same for me too Poppy. We had no idea Vretsia existed, we had been to Roudia venetian bridge, off-roading from Kefalos. We then drove up the steep hill and found ourselves in Vretsia. The taverna was open and we relaxed there for a bit with cold drinks and crisps before wondering round the abandoned village. I have been back since, this time I parked in Vretsia and hiked down to Roudia bridge and back up again. The taverna was still there but closed. Again, I had a wonder round the village, as you said Dominic, it is rather eerie.

Which route was that? The one through the woods or the one by the old watermill?

It is the route from Kefalos bridge. From there you cross over the river(when it is not too high!) and then as far,as I remember just keep going on a narrow track with a steep drop - as I said quite scary although I think it may be one of the routes that the Cyprus Rally takes.

Yes, but from Roudia you can go two ways to get to Vretsia. You can continue on the main Pera Vesa track, which stays in the woods, or you can take a more southerly route that goes through more open countryside and follows the river more. The southerly route goes via an old watermill, but the ride from there to Vretsia can get very muddy.

We never had any problems with muddy water-filled tracks in the old Toyota 2WD Twin Cab, did we Jacs? If in doubt about the track ahead, just STOP, then grab a nearby stick and survey the dubious track ahead on foot, plumbing the depth of the ruts, 'n working out if it's driveable, or not...

Same applies to very rocky tracks up in the hills, (especially if you're in a little family hire car, LOL!)

If common sense says NO, just do a U turn and try another route to your intended destination!

Cheers- AL

We prefer throwing caution to the wind and travelling with a shovel. Only had to use it once mind.

Dominic wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2017 7:25 pm We prefer throwing caution to the wind and travelling with a shovel. Only had to use it once mind.

LOL, Dominic
That's how we ended up like this
It was €50 well spent in the end though
https://cypruslifeinpictures.wordpress. ... e-to-lidl/

I don't remember the way we drove from Roudia to Vretsia I'm afraid. I just remember that we didn't know where we were going but for some reason we decided to try that way instead of going back the way we came. I seem to remember the last part was very steep and we ended up near the tavern, but I may be wrong.

I remember the water mill from when I hiked down from Vretsia, not from driving, but I may just have been unobservant then.

All part of the fun of exploring Cyprus - you'll never know what you will find!

I'm now up to 10 venetian bridges - still a few more to find

PMSL @ that one, PhotoLady!

PaphosAL wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2017 8:24 pm PMSL @ that one, PhotoLady!

Yep! We still giggle at it now.... that was one of my Wednesday half days' out of the office. I hate supermarket shopping and hubby always did it whilst I was at work. After half an hour or so of us trying to get the twin cab out of the sand and oil, I was wishing I had gone shopping instead!

Of course, it was all made even funnier by the rescue vehicle becoming stuck as well - so we got 2 rescue vehicles for the price of one that day

I'm planning a series of blogs on them. I don't think I've got 10 yet so I may have to pick your brains.

Unfortunately I couldn't get the recently rediscovered one in Heroskipou before they buried it again for it's own protection.

Mind you, some of the more modern bridges are fascinating too. I really liked this one:

Photolady, what must you have thought when your rescuer got stuck?

When I had to dig us out, my biggest worry was the failing light. I wouldn't want to be out in the wilderness in pitch black surrounded by thick mud. I was incredibly relieved when the car escaped the clutches of the mud, and luckily our track choices from then on proved ok. Though to be frank, I think we tried all the bad ones before we found the good one.

It was starting to get a bit chilly by the time we eventually got out, Dominic....

We lost a couple of rubber car mats and several lumps of wood out of the pickup. I was ever so pleased to see that truck with the winch arrive but then you think.... "what if?" Surely he can't get stuck as well!

Hi Dominic

The medieval bridges I've been to are: Kefalos, Elia, Roudia, Millia, Piskopos, Trimiklini, Kalapanagiotis, Agia Mavri, Akapnou & Xyliatos/Lagoudera.

I've found a list of 23 bridges in all, so a few more to go. I hadn't heard about the one in Geroskipou.

Think my favourite is Roudia, because it's in the middle of nowhere and an adventure to get to.

I've seen the double bridge you posted a photo of, it's pretty cool. Have you been to this one? I love the sound it makes as you drive over it -
And here's a not very informative photo of Vretsia tavern

Yes I have seen that one. Are you a geocacher by any chance? There used to be a cache on that bridge but it is no longer there.

With regards Roudia, I know what you mean about the remoteness. We drove past it several times before we even realised it was there.

I don't suppose you could find that list? It would be very helpful.

With regards the Geroskipou one, I only recently read about it. They found it, presumably buried, and have reburied it until they have the time and money to restore it properly, to protect it from the elements.

Hi Dominic

I do use the geochacing website. I don't always fuss about finding the actual cache, but I use it to help me find new places. I found this bridge by chance though, while driving around. It up on a side road near Dora.

Here's the list I found recently on the bridges -

Excellent, thank you very much.

Polis / Skarfos Bridge / below Simou / on the Evretou river above the Evretou Dam can easily be reached by normal saloon car, Dom, if you haven't seen this bridge yet? Down from (and back up to) Simou was the route I chose.

It's also worth driving along the dead-end track running NW from Skarfos Bridge alongside the Evretou river and reservoir to Evretou village itself, on the NE feeder side. This is one of the many abandoned TC villages up in that area..

And not the only reservoir in the Pafos area to have an abandoned TC village at the end of a dead-end track alongside it. I wonder how that came about??

Look very forward to viewing your photos and blog on this Skarfos one, LOL!

Cheers- AL