Vrecha General View.

Vrecha

Getting there

From the Paphos to Limassol motorway take the turnoff to Agia Varvara. Bypass Agia Varvara then head through Axylou and Eledio to the Amargeti bypass. After a few kilometres take the turnoff to Galataria then wind your way through Galataria then Kilinia until the turnoff to Vrecha. From here the narrow concrete road winds, sometimes precariously, into the village where it deteriorates into vehicle tracks. On the way down, near Kilinia, there are a couple of zivania stills on the right-hand side of the road.

Vrecha Mosque.
Vrecha Bordello.

Looking around

Vrecha, was a predominantly Turkish Cypriot village which was abandoned as a result of the 1974 conflict.

The views from the village are quite spectacular - forested hills sweeping down to the valley below then towards the far side of the valley. There are also moufflon in this area and if you keep relatively quiet you may catch a glimpse of them.

Vrecha Coffee Shop.

A good place to start is the renovated mosque to which it may or may not be possible to gain access, except through a window. Opposite the mosque is what was presumably a village coffee shop and to the right of this is an open field, perhaps the village 'green'. Proceed along the track to the right-hand side of the field until you come to a T-junction and the last house in the village. This is a white and blue single storey structure with a roof and a few dilapidated windows and doors. From here walk down the overgrown street, exploring the ruins on the way. At the bottom of the street, at the track you arrived on, is a large building with once-ornate balconies. It conjures up visions of a bordello with scantily-clad ladies hanging from the balconies and enticing young men to their boudoirs. But this is pure fantasy. Here you can turn right to explore more of the village. Alternatively you can turn left towards the mosque. From the mosque you can either walk or drive down the track past the school (evinced by the blackboards on the walls and the school loos in the corner of the field) until you arrive at the restaurant. This is usually closed but probably a phone call (99636195) will bring the proprietors to open it up.

If you walk or drive down from the restaurant to the water towers on the right you will come to the start of a Forestry Nature Trail which leads down to the Roudhias Bridge but after about half a kilometre down the trail you can turn right on a grassy track which leads back to the main vehicle track. If you wish to visit the Vulture observation post drive past the water towers then fork right The observation post is almost hidden behind pine trees and at the top of a very steep hill. It will be locked unless there are bird watchers in residence but from here you should be able to discern, across the valley, a large cage where the young vultures are protected.

If you wish to visit the Turkish cemetery take the track below the restaurant and follow it down until you can see the headstones and grave markers. In this area you may see the uncommon Echium italicum (Pale Bugloss).

If you wish to visit the Venetian Roudhias bridge you have two choices. The first is to drive down the steep and rutted track from the Vulture observation post until you arrive at the valley floor. From there you can cross the stream to view the Vulture cage more closely or you can take the track past the ruined mill to the Roudhias bridge. (this involves fording the stream three times). The second choice is to drive back to the mosque then follow the main track along but below the ridge. After a few kilometres turn right at a T-junction signposted to Pera Vasa then proceed down, down to the valley floor. Cross a clearing and then the stream then drive up a slight rise to the bridge. It is a lovely tranquil place where the water always seems to be flowing.

From the bridge you can walk along the 'Camel' trail. This leads steeply back up to Vrecha. It is a steep but beautiful climb. If you do not wish to go all the way to Vrecha you can proceed along the relatively flat trail to the ruined mill then either retrace your steps or descend to the vehicle track to walk back to the bridge (but be prepared to get your feet wet because you have to cross the stream three times).

Vrecha Desirable Residence.

From the bridge you have three choices. The first is to return the way that you came. For the latter two choices drive away from the bridge then up a long winding vehicle track to a junction which boasts Forestry trail information. From here you may proceed to the right then eventually you should arrive at Agios Iaoannis, an ex-Greek/Turkish village which has been largely abandoned by the Turkish Cypriots. From this village proceed to Salamiou and the main road back to Paphos. If you go straight on at the crossroads you should pass the Pera Vasa picnic site on the left where part of the trunk of 200 year old pine tree has been preserved under an awning next to its stump. Drive past this then head down, fork right then head down again until you can see the Arminou reservoir below and to your right. At the bottom of the track cross the river, or river bed, to view the Elia bridge, another Venetian bridge. From this bridge take the short drive to the tarmac road then turn right to head for Agios Nikolaos then down the main road through the picturesque Diarizos valley to the motorway.

Vrecha School.
Vrecha School.
Vrecha School.
Vrecha School.
Vrecha House.
Vrecha Graveyard.
Vrecha Mosque.
Vrecha Paravesa 200 year old tree.