Chania Deres

General information

About 25 km south of Chania Town lies the small beautiful village of Deres. Surrounded by small creeks, lush plane trees and jagged mountains, Deres is a wonderful hamlet on the way to Sougia, in southern Crete.

Stone houses and tiny churches dot the village. One of the most impressive buildings you will see is a two-story Venetian mansion with a patio, spacious rooms and storehouses. It is said to have been the residence of Venetian and, later on, Turkish officials, while, today, it functions as an oil mill. You will also find an equestrian center, where you can learn horse riding and enjoy the surrounding landscape on horseback.

If you want to experience a traditional panigiri, Deres is definitely the place to go, as no less than four such events are held there between July and the beginning of September. This will allow you to get a taste of authentic Cretan hospitality and sample a range of local delicacies, including thyme honey, graviera cheese, kserotigana (dough pastries with honey), wine and, of course, plenty of tsikoudia.

The road leading to the village is paved but winding, so attention is required while driving.