Tripotama brings together two distinct aspects of a stay: the archaeological traces of the ancient city of Psophis and the landscape where three rivers meet. There is also a 1 km-long hiking trail along the Erymanthos. If you are choosing between cultural history and a short riverside walk, the area offers specific, distinct highlights.
River Confluence and Riverside Trail
In Tripotama, the Erymanthos, Aroanios and Seiraios rivers meet; they then merge to form the Erymanthos. The confluence is a striking geographical landmark for the area. The hiking trail adds a specific route to this natural setting: it starts beside the arched Erymanthos Bridge, follows the riverbank and is 1 km long.
Along the way, the trail passes the recreation area and the Katriva spring; it ends at the Vasiliki spring. Its starting point, route and destination set it apart from simply spending time at the confluence. If you are planning the nature-focused part of your trip, you can treat this short route as a highlight in its own right, alongside the historic sites. Check local conditions before setting out.
Psophis in the Village Landscape
The ruins of the ancient city of Psophis and remnants of its city wall can be seen mostly in the village of Tripotama, beside houses and on private property. The remains are thus part of the village landscape, not just a separate point on a map. Since some sections are on private property, please respect property boundaries when viewing them.
The construction of the surviving wall sections also offers a specific point of interest: they are built in pseudo-isodomic masonry, with polygonal sections interspersed. When viewing them, you can look out for these two construction styles rather than seeing the wall as a single continuous ruin. The wall remains in the village and the fortifications on Paliókastro are two distinct archaeological points of interest associated with Psophis.
Paliókastro and the Monastery’s History
The conical hill of Paliókastro was fortified and served as the acropolis of the ancient city of Psophis. On the acropolis, the circuit wall and two towers can be made out. The larger of the two western towers survives to a height of up to 2 metres. The foundations of a church were excavated south of the towers. This makes it possible to distinguish several features among the archaeological remains: the circuit wall, towers and church foundations.
At the foot of the hill stands the Koímisi Monastery, enclosed by a fortification-style wall. It was founded in 1825 and destroyed by Ibrahim in 1826. In the following decades, it was used again as a church and school, but was abandoned in the 19th century. This sequence of foundation, destruction, renewed use and abandonment adds further historical episodes to the ancient history. For planning purposes, the archaeological sites and the monastery’s history are distinct highlights; check current access conditions before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Mamousia, Kertezi, Dafni, Kalavrita, Livartzi, Tsoukalaiika, Selianítika, Kaminia.
For the broader travel overview: Achaia.
