Tatarna Bridge

The Tatarna Bridge (Γέφυρα Τατάρνας, "Gefyra/Gefira Tatarnas") is a modern bridge over the Kremasta artificial lake. The bridge connects the Valtos province of Acarnania with the Evrytania prefecture. In the same place there was a 17th century historical and famous old arch stone bridge (over the river Acheloos). The name Tatarna comes from a nearby monastery. Next to the old bridge there was the largest spring of the Achelous, known to the locals with the name Mardacha (Μαρδάχα) which means "huge spring". The modern bridge (which was designed by the civil engineer Aristarchos Oikonomou) was constructed over the place where the old one was sunk. The architect plan for the bridge received three international awards referring to its unique way of construction. The GR-38 (Agrinio - Karpenisi - Lamia) runs over the bridge.

History

Near the old historical bridge of Tatarna took place the first battle of the Greeks from Roumeli against the Turks during the struggle for independence (1821).

Not very far from the new bridge there is located an abyss hole on the ground. According to confirmed information, by locals and others,many opponents to the E.L.A.S.(E.A.M.) organisation (during the civil war) were thrown, killed or alive, inside the abyss hole. In the place a monument erected to remind the event to the visitors.

Βιβλιογραφία

1. Βασιλείου Ι. Πάνου (Vasileiou Panos)- Το Μοναστήρι της Τατάρνας (The Tatarna monastery) - Εκδόσεις Επιστημονικής Εταιρίας Ελληνικών Γραμμάτων "Πάπυρος" ('Papyros' Publications), Αθήνα (Athens) 1970.

2. Φραγγίστα Επαμεινώνδα (Fragistas Epaminondas)- Ο Βίος του Κατσαντώνη (The life of Katsantoni)- Επανέκδοση με επιμέλεια Π.Βασιλείου (2nd edition by Vasileiou P.), Αθήνα (Athens) 1963

3. Τζάνη Μιλτιάδη (Tzani Miltiades)- Ιστορικά σημειώματα της Ιεράς Μονής Τατάρνας (Historical Notes of the sacred monastery of Tatarna,Εφημερίδα "Λαός"(Newspaper "Laos"), Αγρίνιο (Agrinion) 15-12-1957.

4. Λουκόπουλος Δ. (Loukopoulos Dimitrios)- Στ' ΄Αγραφα (In Agrapha) Αθήνα (Athens)1929.

5. Παπαϊωάννου Κωνσταντίνος (Papaioannou Konstantinos)- Αλευράδα (Alevrada)- Αθήνα (Athens) 2007, (ISBN:978-960-631-817-7).

6. Θεοχάρη Μαρία (Theochari Maria)- "Η ιστορική μονή της Τατάρνης - The histotical monastery of Tatarna)" - Εφημερίδα "Καθημερινή - 'Kathimerini' newspaper" , 2/4/1963.

7. Βασιλείου Ι.Πάνου - "Υπάρχουν στην Ευρυτανία τσιφλίκια; Οι σκλάβοι της Τατάρνας περιμένουν τη λύτρωσίν των", Εφημερίς "Ευρυτανία" 1/8/1929.

8. Μαρίνου Θ. (Marinos Th.), Ο Εφιάλτης της Εθνικής Αντίστασης (The nightmare of National resistance), Αθήνα (Athens), 2000.

9. Woodhouse, W.J., Aetolia:Its Geography,Topography and Antiquities, Oxford 1897.

10. Χούτα Στυλιανού (Houtas Stylianos)- Εθνική Αντίσταση των Ελλήνων-The national resistance of the Greeks, Αθήνα (Athens, 1961.

11. Αρχιμ.Δοσιθέου, Προσκύνημα στο Μοναστήρι της Τατάρνας, Εκδόσεις "Επτάλοφος", Αρδηττού 12-16, 116 36, Αθήνα 1985 (επανέκδοση 2007).(www.eptalofos.gr).