Pastra (mountain)

Pastra (1025 m) (Greek Πάστρα) is a mountain located on the NNW end Attica on the border with the perfecture of Voioteia. It is part of the Kithaironas mountain range. Its highest peak is Kourteza (Κούρτεζα) or Tsouka (Τσούκα). Its morphology is defined by steep slopes and four deep gorges on the NE side. Its flora consists of brushwood, holm oaks, pine trees, and arbutus. Its fauna includes hares, foxes, blackbirds, and partridges.

History

A number of municipalities and settlements were located around Pastra in antiquity including Oinoi (Οινόη), Eleftherai (Ελευθεραί), Erythrai (Ερυθραί), and Ysiai (Υσιαί). A number of fortifications on the mountain's passages from 400 B.C. survive to this age.

On December 20th, 1997 a Hellenic Air Force airplane C-130H 750, c.n. 4729, crashed into Pastra during the landing approach to Tanagra air base.

Religious buildings

On Pastra one can find the monastery of Profitis Ilias (Προφήτης Ηλίας) and the churches Αgios Dimitrios (Άγιος Δημήτριος), Αgios Athanasios, (Άγιος Αθανάσιος), Agia Marina (Αγία Μαρίνα), Agia Triada (Αγία Τριάδα), and Agios Georgios (Άγιος Γεώργιος).