Platres is a mountain holiday resort located in the Troodos Mountains, at an altitude of about 1200 m above sea level. It is often called the resort of kings and poets, due to famous personalities who rested here in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The beginnings of the settlement date back to medieval times. At that time there was a settlement here where shepherds and winemakers lived. To this day, vineyards and orchards are present in the landscape of the entire area. However, it was not until the 19th century that interest in the village as a place of rest came.
The popularity of Platres was primarily influenced by its location. The buildings stretches amphitheatrically on mountain slopes and is surrounded by greenery. The climate here is very favorable, and the area encourages walking and excursions. They appreciated these advantages, among others Egyptian king Faruk, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Giorgos Seferis or British writer Daphne du Maurier. Brandy Sour cocktail invented in one of the hotels in Platres is associated with King Faruk.
In winter, Platres is a small ski resort located on the nearby Olimp (1952 m). Although there are only a few kilometers of short slopes, for Cypriots it is the only possibility of skiing.
The surroundings of the village abound in landscape attractions. In addition to the views themselves, there are also two picturesque waterfalls, the Caledonian Waterfall and Myllomeri. Walking and cycling routes lead to both of them. The area around Platres is also a cycling center very well known in Cyprus with well-prepared MTB routes.
