Hotel

Montanema Handmade Village

Mouzaki, Thessalia, Greece

The Montanema Handmade Village is located in a fairytale forest with beautiful, lush green trees, enchanted glades, waterfalls and gorges. It is a holiday village with an excellent restaurant, a cozy café, a large spa area, an outdoor pool, a zoo and vegetable gardens. In the style of Ronja the Robber's Daughter and the Hobbits - pure nature in the middle of Europe.

Christos and Dimitris have been hosting here since 2014, after Christos fell in love with this magical place during one of his hikes. He wanted to make the peace and contentment he felt here in the middle of the forest possible for other people too. They built up the village piece by piece to create a vacation spot that was truly close to nature. The 34 traditional-style stone houses and villas offer breathtaking views of the Pindos Mountains and are close to the mythical rocks of Meteora with monasteries that seem to touch the sky. The interior is rustic and cozy with lots of open stone walls, wooden furniture, colorful fabrics and carpets, cozy light and lots of peace.

In addition to the large spa and wellness area, the many excursions on offer and courses such as yoga or archery, the main focus here is on good food and regional ingredients. We mainly use products from our own farm with its many animals, a vegetable and herb garden and bees. Cooking takes place in old wood-burning ovens according to traditional recipes. BBQ parties also take place regularly on the wooden terrace in the middle of the forest and everything smells of fire, wild nature and good food - simply magical.



Rooms + Rates

per night
Studiofrom125 €
Cottagefrom195 €
Villafrom235 €

Sustainable

ArchitectureThe design of the complex follows the principles of bioclimatic architecture and ecostructure, with wood and stone being the main materials. Solid masonry with high thermal capacity and insulation were installed in the buildings. The cement was made from Kourasanit, the strongest and most ecological traditional building material. The walls were painted with proven and certified environmentally friendly paints. The floors are made of fired clay, a natural, 100% recyclable material. During the planning, the flora of the property was taken into account and intervention was made as little as possible.

FoodAll ingredients are grown and produced locally or regionally. The honey and wine are organic quality. It is a particularly good area for mushrooms and wild herbs. There are always vegan and vegetarian alternatives on the menu and cooking events - such as BBQ evenings, honey tastings and cooking classes. There is fresh sourdough bread, handmade butter made from goat's milk, eggs from the chickens, homemade jams, organic honey and wine as well as tsipouro (brandy). Wild herb teas and lemonades, as well as special herbal, game and mushroom dishes are available upon request and in season.

All employees come from the region and regularly take part in training programs in order to be able to continue their education, especially in ecological issues.

EnvironmentThe water comes from springs at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level. It is not only drinkable, but also particularly good and digestive water. In addition, it is recycled, no plastic is used, composted and kitchen oil is used to light fires. Leftover food from the kitchen and restaurant is fed to the animals. Watering the lawn and gardens is carried out in the morning so that the water does not evaporate. Cultivation of vegetables, food from the region that does not have to travel long distances to the restaurant. The detergents used to clean the apartment carry the eco-label and do not contain harmful chemicals that harm the environment and our health. Some cleaning products and cosmetics are made here from natural raw materials.

Well-BeingThe spa's arched roofs and walls are decorated and relaxing music, soothing lights, scents of essential oils and herbs, colorful handcrafted candlesticks, the fireplace and the ancient handcrafted stone floors all contribute to ultimate relaxation. The path to the spa leads over a low footbridge. The swimming pool, jacuzzi and warm cascading waterfall are very invigorating. The scent of medicinal herbs smells in the sauna, which was built in the style of a cave with large river pebbles. Next to the sauna is the hammam with its arched roof, ancient carved cisterns and heated marble. The warm water, which comes from natural sources, is particularly pure and healthy. The therapists use pure handmade soap and a traditional scrubbing glove (Ketse). A variety of treatments are offered in the two treatment rooms, including therapeutic reflexology, foot massage and essential oil massage.


Characteristics

  • Unique, hand-built holiday village located in the middle of a gorge in a pristine forest
  • Experience authentic hospitality with a love for nature, art and tradition
  • Just four kilometers from Lake Plastira - an area ranked among the five cleanest in the world according to UNESCO
  • Perfect for finding relaxation, connecting with nature and finding yourself
  • Use of natural springs and regional medicinal herbs
  • Home-made cosmetic products made from herbs collected in the forest
  • Various activities possible in the house and in the surrounding area: guided hikes with forest and herb experts, live cooking in the forest, visiting the honey bees with tasting, archery courses, Pilates and yoga courses, courses for the production of pure olive oil soaps, night hikes in the forest to observe fireflies in summer, and much more
  • Also suitable for events

Holiday Village34 stone houses and villasRestaurant and own cooking facilitiesChildren welcomeWi-FiDisabled accessPoolPets allowed

Features

  • Holiday village with 34 differently designed accommodations
  • 8 different types of houses, from 2 suitable for up to 6 people
  • All accommodations have their own cooking facilities
  • Breakfast, café, restaurant + bar
  • Large spa and wellness area with sauna and hammam
  • Offer of various treatments and massages can be booked
  • Indoor swimming pool and whirlpool
  • Large outdoor pool
  • Fitness room and various yoga classes

Testimonials

More than just a guesthouse, Montanema stands for a different philosophy of hospitality. In the forest and in the ravine above the village of Anthohori, the complex consists of more than 30 cottages, which are fully integrated into the surrounding area. It is a unique retreat, which is vibrant and full of activities. The spa center has a pool and a whirlpool with mountain views, a hammam, a sauna, and offers massage treatments. The restaurant prepares delicious dishes with local ingredients every day, while the café is ideal for reading a book, getting lost in its pages, and occasionally looking up at the forested slopes. You can learn how to roll out pastry sheets, make soap from olive oil and herbs collected in the mountains, swing over a steep slope or see the turkeys, sheep, piglets and ponies in the farm. Upon consultation, the people of the guesthouse will guide you around the area and the mountain peaks, while they will also inform you about the paths around the guesthouse – nearby, you will find the waterfalls of Anthohori. Each cottage has a fireplace but no TV. All cottages are comfortable and spacious.

Lina Kapetaniou, ekathimerini.com, November 2023
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Rooms + Rates

per night
Studiofrom125 €
Cottagefrom195 €
Villafrom235 €

Location + Directions

By car

Unfortunately, the Montanama Handmade Village is not accessible by public transport. From Thessaloniki it takes a good 3 hours to get to the village (241 km) and from Athens it takes a good 4 hours (331 km). The exact address can be found on the website.