Σπήλαιο Χαϊνόσπηλιος

Chainospilios

Useful Information

Location:	Kamaraki, Tilisos 740 51. (35.3050663, 24.9261507)
Open:	Gated, get key at the Orient Net Café. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Chainospilios, Tel: +30-281-034-1039. Orient Net Café, Malevizi 740 51, Tel: +30-697-219-2451.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Σπήλαιο Χαϊνόσπηλιος (Chainospilios, Hainospilios) is located at the hamlet Καμαράκι (Kamaraki), which belongs to the village Αστυρακίου (Astirakion). The name refers to the Chainides, Cretan rebels who used the area as their base to hide from the Turkish occupiers. The term actually is of Turkish origin, ther word “chain” means insurgent or rebellious. The cave was the hideout of the famous rebel chieftain Palmetis (*1790-✝1834) from Kamaraki. He was known to have killed many Turks. But the cave was also used by the locals as a hideout during Turkish oppression. According to local lore, a priest from Kamariotis once leaked the location of the cave to the turk. They opened a hole in the roof and set fire, a tactic which was used frequently. Normally it either killed the refugees or drove them out. Here the people moved to the back of the cave where the smoke could not affect them. The revolutionary committee for the fight for freedom and the Provisional Government of Crete stayed at the cave in 1866. In FEB-1867 the Provisional Government was set by the General Assembly of Crete. In DEC-1868, Turks surrounded the cave to capture members of the committee and take over the village. They captured and killed many of them but did not manage to occupy the village. The cave was once more used as a hideout by guerillas of the national resistance during the German Occupation in World War II.

It is also known as Μαρμαρόσπηλιος (Marmarospilios) and the locals call it Λαβύρινθο (Labyrinth). The cave has a 120 m long main passage with numerous speleothems. There are some small rimstone pools and up to 6 m high stalagmites. However, since the cave was visited for centuries, many of them are broken. The cave is closed by a gate, the key is available at the Orient Net Café at Kamaraki. The cave is not developed in any way, the trail is muddy and wet. We strongly recommend helmet, headlamp, old clothes and gum boots.