Rhodope Mountains National Park

From an ecological point of view, the whole of the Rhodope is one of the most interesting areas in Europe, owing to its great biodiversity. This is due to its geographical position, its geological composition and geomorphology, as well as the fact that it was not affected by glaciers. As a result, many species of Central and Northern Europe found refuge in the Rhodope in the past. Today the area marks the southernmost limit of their range. Especially in the central and western part of the range are found some of the least disturbed natural ecosystems in Europe. They host a great variety of habitats and rare species of plants and animals.

The Greek part of the Rhodope is of great ecological interest, despite the relatively small area it covers. All vegetation zones are found here, from purely Mediterranean to clearly continental ones, and the zone of the northern cold-loving conifers of the pre-alpine zone and of Northern Europe. In the Greek part of the range, the diversity of ecosystems is great within a relatively small area.

North of the prefecture of Xanthi, the mountain massif of the area is famous for its virgin forests, its peaks and its waterfalls. Also for the villages in the wider Nestos area (Nestochoria), among them the "Pomakochoria" (Pomak villages), which are renowned for their cultural and architectural uniqueness.

Sights worth visiting.

• The Leivaditis waterfalls
• The Fraktos Virgin Forest and the Achladorema waterfalls
• Lepida Forest and waterfalls
• Elatia Forest and Stravorema
• Peaks in the Haidou area: Gyftokastro (1,828 m), Haidou or Drymos (1,608 m), Erymanthos or Antalofos (1,569 m), Mavri Petra (1,586 m)
• Acidic peat bogs
• The Sarakatsani gathering in the Leivaditis area
• The bridges "of Leonidas", "of the Priest", "of Stamatis", "of Dipotama", "of Palio Fylakio" and many more, located in the prefectures of Xanthi and Drama,
• Nestochoria
• Pomakochoria (Prefecture of Xanthi)
• Macedonian Tomb