The Municipality of Korthi, the Institute of Greek Mills, the Cultural Club "PETRENIA" and the Ministry of Culture, organized a festival, in 24, 25 and 26 of September 1999, within the context of the European Heritage Days.

* See pictures of the events *

Program:

Friday, 24/9		21:00		Opening of photography exhibition on water-mills in the area of the Municipality of Korthi, at the Dimosthenis Zagoraios Institution
Saturday, 25/9		12:00		The restored water-mill in Exo Vouni, donated by Nick Loussides, comes into operation.
		15:00		Festival in Mesa Vouni
Sunday, 26/9		11:00		Guided tour in Dipotamata and the water-mills

The European Heritage Days are dedicated to monuments and their preservation. Every year, during one weekend in September, special activities take place in and around the monuments. Concerts, festivals, guided tours and educational activities provide the sites with a new dimension and the public has an opportunity to see the monument, get to know it better and experience it more fully.
The European Heritage Days are supported by the European Commission and the Council of Europe. Fifty-four areas of Europe are taking part in this years' celebrations.
Each country decides for itself what the theme of its events will be.
Greece has taken part in the European Heritage Days since 1994, and for the years 1999-2000 has chosen the theme "Water of Life".

WATER OF LIFE: It is commonplace that it is impossible to imagine life without water. The concept of a natural and built environment totally devoid of water is like a scenario from a science fiction film. We have only to follow a river from its source to its mouth to realize how dependent our lives are on water.
Water is born in the earth, and the first indication of its life on earth is the spring. The earth itself gives form to water, makes it a river, a torrent, a lake. Men settle in organized communities next to lakes. Torrents are swollen in winter and dry up in summer. Rivers are sources of life, channels of communication, and also boundaries, never completely subjected to the will of humans.
Man built bridges to cross over rivers. He changed their course with dams, so that remote areas would benefit. He watered his fields. He exploited the impetus of water through water-mills. He constructed aqueducts to bring it into the cities. He transported, stored and consumed it in vases. Through it, he gained purification. In the bathhouses he took care of his body and met his fellows. Finally, wherever water was lacking, man's inventiveness came into play, for he realized he could not live without it.