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Address:
Δέμπλα 
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Places near Church
The mouth of the Tavronitis River is spanned by The Tavronitis Bailey Bridge that was built by the Italians and is well-known for the battle there on 20 May 1941, during the Second World War. Thousands of German paratroopers landed near the bridge and a fierce battle took place for control of the key airfield at nearby Maleme.
The old bridge had fallen into disrepair and sections had collapsed, but lately this has been restored, and the bridge is now more pleasantly known as an ideal spot for bird watching, particularly at dawn and at dusk. The following birds have been seen at Tavronitis at various times of the year, but mostly during April and May for migrants: Sardinian Warbler, Little Egret, Cetti Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, Buzzard, Wheat Ear, Gold Finch, Stonechat, Marsh Harrier (Lammergeier), Barn Owl, Squacco Heron, Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis, Kingfisher, Night Heron, Little Bittern, Snipe, Common, Curlew and Wood Sandpipers, Hobby, Red Footed Falcon, Cory’s Shearwaters and Closer Shags.
There are many cafes and mini markets, as well as a good selection of relaxed tavernas set by the sea. Tavronitis is 1 minute from the National Highway and 25 minutes from Chania Town.
The Bridge of Tavronitis River
The metal bridge of Tavronitis river was built in the beginning of the 20th century. At that period the Cretan State was autonomous and several projects were planned and implemented. These works of high technical demands were supervised by both foreign and Greek engineers and led to the financial growth of the island of Crete.
Since the end of the 19th century, iron was also being used in bridgework. During the period of the Cretan State, many bridges both stone and metal were constructed, just like Tavronitis bridge. Its construction started in 1900 and finished within three years. The engineers who signed its installation were Michalis Savakis and Nikolaos Petasis. The iron made body of the bridge supports on six very strong pedestals made of stone, two on each side and four in between the bridge. As a result, five huge openings are mede through which the water of Tavronitis flows. The walking area is wooden, it is about 3.5m wide and has 60cm pavements on each side. The overall legth of the bridge is more than 160m. This bridge was used for transport till the 1980s when a new one was built out of concrete not far from the old one in the south.
The bridge was strongly connected/linked with the great battle of Crete during World War II. During the invasion of the 21st of May 1941, German paratroops tried to conquer the area and the inland of Crete. This bridge stands as a witness to the memory of many Cretans and allied fighters, who defended the area during the German invasion. Height 107 has the same historical importance and is located in Maleme airport, where significant defence battles took place. Tavronitis bridge has been identified as a historical monument and it is under the protection of the Greek Ministry of Culture as it is an important engineering achievement of its era and its historic significance.
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