The Prefecture of
Kilkis is located in
Central Macedonia, between the Prefectures of
Pella,
Thessaloniki and
Serres. The
mountains of Paiko, Belles and Kroussia, the rich valleys of
Gallikos and Axios rivers, the lake of Doirani and the lake of Pikrolimni compose a landscape of astonishing beauty. The entire region appears that it was space of human activity from the early Iron Age. Some of the most important settlements that have been discovered are: the
ancient city of
Kristonia, at the eastern side of the Axios River and the ancient city of
Paionia, hailed by Homer, at the western side of the river.
Later in the Macedonian years are founded also the
cities:
Eidomeni, Evropos, Atalanti, Gortynia, Terpillos and Kallindria. These cities owed their development to the great success of the Macedonian State, which had welcomed into its royal courts philosophers, poets and artists. However, in 148 B.C. the entire
Macedonian State fell under Roman Rule. More than 250 years pass of the so called
Pax Romana until the area is sacked by Goths, Huns, Avars and Slavs. The fall of Thessaloniki later in the 13th century, signalled the Ottoman rule for the area. In modern history, the 1st World War and the battles of 1940 played crucial role as well. Nowadays, the region is going through constant financial and cultural renewal, welcoming numerous guests.
Beginning our wonder in the region, we get to know the city o
f Kilkis, the capital of the Prefecture. The city lies on the foothills of the mountain of St. George. On the top of the mountain stands the Post-Byzantine church of Ai Giorgis (St. George). The cave that it is also located at the foothills of St. George is one of the worth visiting
caves in
Greece. It covers more than thousand square metres and has rare coral-like decorations, a variety of stalactites, stalagmites and compositions of unique beauty. In addition scientific interesting is occurred because of both numerous findings of fossils and bones of animals of prehistoric period and its medicinal interest said to cure pulmonary diseases. For all these reasons, it is a pole of attraction of thousands of visitors each year and is one of more important sights in the prefecture of Kilkis.
Descending the hill of St. George, we come across the
Archaeological Museum, in which is exposed the unique in Northern Greece 6th century Kouros statue of
ancient Evropos, four monumental statues from the village of Palatiano, as well as a collection of ceramics dating back to the early Iron Age, sculptures from
Hellenistic and Roman times. In the same region is located also the ancient-style Open Theatre in which dozens of theatrical plays and concerts take place during the summer festival “in the Moonlight” while during October the festival of doll play takes place and artists from all over the world participate.
The war events of modern history are the theme of the small
War Museum, located on the pine-tree hill of Heroon.
Ending, the Kilkis Folklore Museum displays elements and objects from popular culture, thus highlighting the
unique cultural identity of the prefecture.
At the present time,
Kilkis is a modern and calm provincial city that hardly 30΄ far from
Thessaloniki, ideal for a stress-free lifestyle. The city is deprived of pollution and fast rythms of modern cities and someone can find itself in the embrace of nature in minimal time. In the city of Kilkis the visitor will find tourist infrastructure as well as hotel facilities and restaurant services of high quality.