Chania Vryses

General information

The village of Vryses is situated about 20 kilometers to the southeast of Chania Town at the meeting of the Boutakas and Vrysianos rivers. This natural setting grants the area lush, verdant vegetation, as well as extremely fertile lands for agriculture. This creates a temperate climate, without extreme heat in the summer or cold in the winter. In fact, the local weather station measured the warmest-ever January and February temperatures in Greece in 2010.

DISCOVER THE VILLAGES WITH YOUR OWN CAR!
We offer the best prices and our service is rated
Rent your car with us

The area has been inhabited since the times of Ancient Greece, with the poleis of Amphimalion and Philippos situated in the vicinity, while the main attraction of the village, the Kamara Bridge over the Boutakas River, dates back to the Hellenistic period. The Kamara is surrounded by locations of other ancient finds, especially of the subsequent Roman period, while its use over the years is testified by the repairs and additions attributed to the Venetians and the Ottomans. 

The bridge has been a source of inspiration for the local community for centuries, with old folk tales claiming fairies sprung out from underneath it on New Year’s Day and a folk song telling of the bridge’s foundation, which required the master-builder to sacrifice his wife for the bridge to stand.

More about Vryses

The Kamara is to the southeast of the settlement and can be reached by following the river up to where it meets the National Road, next to a church dedicated to Saint George.
To the southwest of the village is another stone bridge, also known as the Lame Man’s Bridge (Kamara you Koutsou), as it was built next to a watermill whose owner had movement difficulties. This bridge was built in the 1890s and is still in use today.

Overall, the area is spanned by a number of smaller rivers and streams, most of which dry up during the summer months. However, natural springs near the village, which are also its namesake, give the lower parts of the river flowing water throughout the year.

The center of the village, where the two rivers meet, is home to a large park full of plane trees offering an abundance of shade, and when the waters flow they are often graced by ducks, creating a soothing environment to enjoy a snack or a coffee at one of the park’s verandas. Next to the park is the village’s main modern bridge, built in 1942, with smaller, wooden bridges also nearby allowing for a walk through the park.