Roupes: Well-kept Houses and Flower-filled Courtyards

Well-kept houses and flower-filled courtyards shape the character of Roupes. The village is in the regional unit of Rethymno, near Pikris and 19 kilometres southeast of Rethymno. If the character of a place is important to you when choosing a holiday destination, its distinctive appearance can offer a concrete starting point in your search for a holiday apartment.

Choosing Roupes

The houses and courtyards give Roupes a distinctive character that is immediately apparent. You can therefore consider whether the village’s appearance matches your idea of a stay before choosing your accommodation. An older municipal route description lists Roupes as a stop on Route 2. If this route order is relevant to your travel planning, check the latest information in advance.

Its location helps you place Roupes within the wider travel area: the village is near Pikris and southeast of the city of Rethymno.

City History and Coast in the Wider Rethymno Area

The old town of Rethymno is designated a protected historic monument and traditional settlement. Its urban layout took shape during the Venetian period and was later altered under Turkish rule. The historic centre lies below the Venetian Fortezza fortress. These features give the city a clear historical focus.

The coast of the municipality of Rethymno offers a different experience: it includes the Venetian harbour, and Rethymno beach stretches for twelve kilometres eastwards from the historic city centre to Scaleta. Its sand is fine-grained and light brown. The city’s history, harbour and long stretch of beach are therefore distinct themes to weigh up when planning a trip to the wider Rethymno destination; they are not features of Roupes itself.

Museums and Archaeological Heritage

The museums in Rethymno also have different focuses. Since 1991, the Archaeological Museum has been housed in a pentagonal building in front of the main entrance to the Fortezza. Its exhibitions present the history of the prefecture from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The Historical and Folklore Museum is housed in a 17th-century Venetian mansion. Five rooms of its permanent exhibition display traditional crafts and folk art. Together, these offer two different ways to explore regional history: a broad historical overview and insights into crafts and folk art.

Elsewhere in the wider Rethymno destination, the Museum of the Archaeological Site of Eleftherna takes visitors into a different era: it is the first archaeological site museum in Crete. Its exhibitions show life in ancient Eleftherna from the late millennia of the 4th millennium BC through to the Byzantine period. The Armeni necropolis also offers an archaeological glimpse into the past. More than 220 tombs have been excavated at the extensive Late Minoan cemetery. The tombs were family tombs containing several deceased people; their grave goods provide insights into the art, religion and social organisation of the time.

Landscape, Culture and Planning a Trip Together

Nature and historic settlements offer further possible points of interest in the wider Rethymno area. The Moulou Gorge includes a small river and the abandoned traditional village of Moulou, with its traditional architecture, old churches and caves. The gorge begins at Chromonastiri and ends at the village of Xiro Chorio. The Arkadi Gorge offers a different route: it begins at Arkadi Monastery and passes through an impressive landscape to the village of Pikri, which features significant examples of Venetian architecture. The two descriptions differ both in their endpoints and in the landscape and architectural features mentioned.

Loggerhead sea turtles nest on the sandy beach in the municipal district of Arkadi, and systematic measures are carried out to protect them. Rethymno also offers a range of cultural experiences: the Renaissance Festival takes place every summer, with music, theatre and dance performances as well as art exhibitions. The traditional carnival includes a parade organised by volunteers each year. Traditional coffee houses in Rethymno serve local specialities, and the destination also offers opportunities for diving. Check in advance for specific event dates.

When planning a holiday together, you can compare these interests: the character and location of Roupes on the one hand, and the city history, coast, museums, landscapes or events of the wider Rethymno area on the other. This lets you tailor your search for a holiday apartment to the themes that really matter for your trip, without conflating Roupes with the broader regional offerings.

Discover more destinations: Sises Geropotamos, Fourfouras, Vederi, Koxare, Perama, Rodakino, Roumeli, Agia Fotini.

Go to the wider travel overview: Rethymno.