Karyes sits at 950 metres on the slopes of Mount Parnon and has a story that goes back to antiquity. This was the home of the sanctuary of Artemis Karyatis – the maidens who danced for the goddess gave their name to the Caryatids, the famous column-statues of the Athens Acropolis. A copy of a Caryatid greets you at the village entrance.
In the churchyard of the Dormition stand old plane trees that local tradition links to King Menelaus. Around the village are seven marked hiking trails and four mountain-bike routes through the forest, and the European E4 path passes right through. Guesthouses and tavernas around the square make it a good overnight stop.