Beginning of the Path to the Spring of the Despot

The Spring of the Despot (Vrysi tu Despoti) is a well-known headwater of the area, the source of the Selinountas River. It is said that Turkish leader Ibrahim Pasha was encamped here (hence the name of Despot, that is oppressor, ruler) with his army in June 1827, on the way to Kalavryta, led by Neneko. A path continues from this point, heading to the fertile plain of Lefterochori, and from there to the Monastery of Makellaria (about 1.5 to 2 hours from the headwater). One way to reach the headwater in 30 to 40 minutes is to cross a hill starting at this point, following the path to the right of the road from Neochori to Megalos Pontias, a few hundred meters higher than the turning point towards Makellaria. It requires attention, because the path gets lost as soon as we reach the top of the hill. The easiest way is the one we describe below, from the forest road of Kaniska to Makellaria.