Excursion to Edessa waterfall and Pozar thermal springs - the Greek city of water

I had heard about this town from friends. My family and I had driven through the area many times on our way to the seaside, yet I hadn't realized what I was missing. Since it is located in northern Greece and is 300 km away from my hometown, my family and I decided to visit.We set off by car and arrived at noon. We headed towards the city center, looking for a parking spot. Alas, about 90 percent of the streets are one-way. We managed to get there somehow, and—what a surprise: right in the city center, there was a huge waterfall—not just one, but two.I’ll describe the city to you a little.Edessa is a beautiful historical town in northern Greece, about 90 kilometers from Thessaloniki, known throughout Europe as the "city of water and waterfalls". As I said, in the very center of the city is the main attraction of the Waterfall Park.Karanos is the largest waterfall in Greece, standing an impressive 70 meters tall. A special highlight is the well-maintained path that leads you directly behind the curtain of water, offering an incredible view—truly one of the most beautiful sights imaginable. There is also a very narrow cave located behind the waterfall, though it is not recommended for larger individuals.A slightly smaller but equally picturesque waterfall in the immediate vicinity is the Double Waterfall (Lamda).This city did not always look this way; in the late 14th century, the area was struck by a devastating earthquake, after which the Edessa River—fed by seven tributaries and flowing into nearby Lake Agra—burst its banks and changed its course. The water then spread through the city, forming Karanos, named in honor of the first Macedonian king.Yes, this city once belonged to Macedonia—just so I don't confuse you.

After visiting the waterfall, we set out to tour the old part of the city. It was interesting—on our way there, we passed through the new section, and the city is unusually beautiful; all the buildings on both sides of the street are uniform and about four stories high.We visited the Open-Air Water Museum, which features several old stone watermills; they perfectly illustrate how the residents of Edessa have always sought to harness the area's water resources—specifically for grinding sesame here. Interestingly, the shops in this city sell sesame oil; I also saw tahini—which wasn't expensive—but we make our own tahini.

We visited two churches we passed along the way and headed towards the Pozar Thermal Baths (Loutra Pozar). Located about a 40-minute drive from Edessa, the site is famous for its thermal springs of warm, healing water (37°C) that emerge right next to an icy mountain river. There, you can bathe in natural outdoor pools surrounded by wild nature and rocky cliffs.

We liked it so much that we extended our stay by another two days and then headed towards Kajmakcalan. I really enjoyed this mini-trip. I hope you liked it.

Thank you for reading my post.

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