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Asfendou Gorge
The Gorge of Asfendos in Sfakia is a small but beautiful gorge and it starts southern from the Sfakian mountain village called Asfendos, situated at an altitude of 620 m and a distance of 45 km from Chania city.
Four kilometres of cobbled path dropping steeply in places down an open gorge. I often wonder who built these ancient cobbled ways which still provide excellent walking routes through this rocky landscape.
Follow the path that leads south away from the village down the valley.
Places near Asfendou Gorge
Asfendou plateau is about 63 kilometres from Chania, at an altitude of 770 metres, and is part of the area known as Sfakia in southwest Crete. It is surrounded by the White Mountains (Lefka Ori).
The road goes through a desolate landscape of steep mountains, small rocky hills, and small fields full of stones. The first village driving from Imbros (west) you will encounter are Asfendou village and plateau. The area is almost entirely deserted, but the stone houses still hold, probably because they are maintained by the shepherds who continue to bring their flocks in the area. The Sfakian village of Asfendou is located in this small and fertile plateau, 8 km from Imbros and 7km from Kalikratis village to east.It has approximately 40 houses and it is inhabited mainly during the summer. In the south of the village, in a small cave, frescoes on the rock have been brought to light, depicting hunting scenes and wild animals. From here through the beautiful ravine (gorge) of Asfendou the visitor can reach the Sfakian village of Vouvas within a 2 hours walk.
The cave is located in the area of Skordoulakia near the village Asfendou / Sfakia, prefecture of Chania (in the northeast part of the entrance of the gorge Asfendou). Asfendou can be reached coming from Chania (towards Sfakia) when turning left after the village Askifou towards Komitades. The cave is "locked" and not to be found without the help of locals. The key and a "tour" to the cave entrance can be get locally: on the village exit of Asfendou look on the right side for the "last electricity pylon" and (approx 100 m besides the road) a located House (roof). Immediately at the electricity pylon a path (through a wire gate) leads to this house. It is inhabited by an older, very hospitable couple.
The Lady of the house is the "key keeper” and leads interested parties to the cave entrance (a corresponding "obolus" for this service should be of course!). She shared with us during our visit, that in the last 10 years, no scientists visited the cave; the last visitors were Greek archaeologists from Athens, Chania and Iraklion. The way to the cave (500 m) leads east of the House through a small plane (thistle field, therefore wear sturdy shoes and long pants, etc.). Halfway, you pass a cistern which is about 15 m deep and whose "rope tracks in the rock" indicate the use of well over 100 years.Access to the cave is located at the southern foot of the left (of the house) range (approx. 700 m above sea level). The cave was originally a “flat cave” under a overhanging rock (and served previously as shelter) of around 6 m wide and approximately 16 m almost horizontally depth with a height of about 2 m at the entrance to up to 1 m at the end of the cave. The entrance then was closed with boulders after the initial exploration of the cave and only an access of approx. 60 x 80 cm was left on the right side, which was closed with an iron bars. This "input" leads (crawling on the stomach) inside the cave. The ceiling height here is max 60 cm which seriously limits the "mobility". The figural rock engravings are located on natural given surfaces, which in some places appear smoother, primarily located two adjacent, probably former “water holes”, which today are filled with soil; the larger has a diameter of approx. 23 cm while the minor measures approx. 16 cm in diameter. The individual engravings are a few just inches large and in different engraving techniques. The total area of engravings covers about 2 square meters of the cave floor. Due to the different engraving techniques and motives multiple development periods and scene groups can clearly be distinguished. The Petroglyphs are well preserved; this concerns both the deeper point engravings and the finer etching.
In her book "Caves of Greece" mentioned Anna Petrocheilou (1992) the cave at Asfendou with only five sentences and underlines their prehistoric importance without any detail. She writes about "rock engravings of stone age people as representations of wild animals, arrow and bow, branches and much more". An interpretation of the probably older line engravings and the depressions arranged in circles is not to be found in this literature.Petroglyphs are known by countless people from all continents except Antarctica. Often the representations for the communities of which they are have high cultural and religious significance. But no general conclusions are allowed. Recognizing the importance of Petroglyphs is possible, if at all, only by excellent knowledge of culture which has established - everything else are conjectures. Let us take the Petroglyphs of Asfendou currently in as what they are - a unique testament to a previously little explored Neolithic culture on Crete.
It starts from the hill grindstone Asfendou village has narrow doors and wild cliffs. The canyon is a high degree of difficulty and for his passing need special equipment mountaineering (ropes etc). The gorge ends at the village Nomikiana after hiking fousource:r hours.
source: http://www.sfakia.gr
The gorge ends in the village of Kapsodasos, at an altitude of 120 m and at a distance of 9 km from Chora Sfakion and 5km far from Fragokastello and after 3,5 hours of walking.
Before reaching the peak, the road continues to the village of Asfendou, built on a small and evergreen plain, at an altitude of 770 meters, 8 km. from Imbros. It has 40 houses and during summer only a few farmers make their way up here.
East of the village, in a small cave, many beautiful frescoes have been discovered. If you continue to the east for 6 km you reach the village of Kallikratis. In Asfendou you can also visit the Falaggari cave, which is very deep and contains a water basin.You can walk down the Asfendou gorge towards Agios Giorgos/ Agios Nektarios, but this is a quit difficult walk.
Ask for information locally first! The gorge itself will take you about 90 minutes, from 770 meters to 180 meters, so very steep.
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