Olympus National Park Information Center

The Olympus National Park Information Center (Greek Κέντρο Πληροφόρησης Εθνικού Δρυμού Ολύμπου, Kendro Pliroforisis Ethnikou Drymou Olymbou) informs their visitors about geology, archaeological sites, mythology, monasteries, plants, animals and other subjects relating to Mount Olympus.

Exhibition at the Olympus National Park Information Center

Location

The centre is located about one kilometer above Litochoro, directly at the road leading to the summits, lies the Olympus National Park Information Center. It is located opposite the extensive sports complex and is signposted.

Purpose

In 1938, Mount Olympus was established as the first national park in Greece, and declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1981.[1]

The building houses the offices of the National Park Administration, the exhibition, a library, various meeting rooms and a spacious atrium for events or exhibitions. There are also rooms for a café and a souvenir shop. The exhibition is the link between the National Park Administration and the public. The visitor is given an overall picture of the mountains. Hiking, nature, archeology, history, fauna, flora, monasteries and, of course, Greek mythology are treated.

Exhibition

The design of the exhibition was designed by the Goulandris Museum of Natural History.[2] The exhibition is divided into seven areas, in which the peculiarities of the seven different zones of the mountain are presented, one will find large-sized boards that provide information about relevant topics in Greek and English. With every rise in the exhibition, the next higher altitude of the mountains is shown and the plant and animal world prevailing there is explained. Places of interest beyond nature are treated on separate boards, information about archaeological sites such as Dion or Leivithra is provided. The hiker is pointed out to interesting places near the hiking trails, such as the monastery of Agios Dionysius or the cave of the painter Ithakisios.

Exhibition at the Olympus National Park Information Center

Service

Multilingual guides are available to assist visitors. A certified Ecoguide is responsible for guided tours in the mountains. The works in the library mainly deal with the themes of Olympus, animals and plants. Most are written in Greek, but books in English, German and French language are also on the shelves. The amphitheater, a room with 142 seats, can be used for congresses, lectures, meetings, etc. A seminar room can also be provided upon request. Registration is required.

The Olympus National Park Information Center is one of the venues of the Olympus Festival.

References
  1. "Biosphere Reserves: Mount Olympus". Unesco.org. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Goulandris National History Museum". Gnhm.gr. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

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