- Region
- Selino, south-west Chania
- Location
- On the Chania–Paleochora road
- Known for
- 1941 memorial, Byzantine churches
- Walk
- Kandanos gorge from Anavos
1941
After villagers fought German troops advancing toward Paleochora during the Battle of Crete, the occupying army razed Kandanos in June 1941 and killed many inhabitants. German signs recording the destruction were kept and are displayed at the memorial in the village centre.
Stop for a few minutes: it is one of the most direct reminders of the occupation anywhere on Crete.
Churches
Kandanos and the nearby villages of Kakodiki, Plemeniana and Floria have many small Byzantine churches, several with frescoes. They are often locked; ask in the café for the key-holder.
The gorge walk
A marked route runs through the Kandanos gorge from Anavos, about 40 minutes to the church of Agios Eirinaios beside the Koukiza stream and around 50 more minutes to Kandanos. Sage, thyme, arbutus, oaks and pines line the way.
The modern road above the gorge was cut in the 1920s by locals working from ropes on the cliffs.
Practical
Kandanos is about an hour from Chania and 20 minutes from Paleochora, making it a natural stop on the way south.
Questions before you go
What happened in Kandanos in 1941?
German troops destroyed the village in reprisal for local resistance during the Battle of Crete.
Is there a walk at Kandanos?
Yes, the Kandanos gorge route from Anavos, about 1.5 hours.
How far is Kandanos from Paleochora?
About 20 minutes by car.
