Kandanos

Kandanos
Κάνδανος

Kandanos centre
Kandanos

Coordinates: 35°20′N 23°44′E / 35.333°N 23.733°E / 35.333; 23.733Coordinates: 35°20′N 23°44′E / 35.333°N 23.733°E / 35.333; 23.733
Country Greece
Administrative region Crete
Regional unit Chania
Municipality Kantanos-Selino
Population (2001)[1]
 • Municipal unit 1,607
Community
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 730 04
Area code(s) 28230
Vehicle registration ΧΝ, XB

Kandanos or Kantanos (Greek: Κάνδανος or Κάντανος) is a town and former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kantanos-Selino, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] It was part of the former Selino Province which covered the southwest of the island. The town has 564 residents.

History

Main article: Razing of Kandanos

The town of Kandanos and its surrounding area suffered particularly badly from German occupation during World War II. During the Battle of Crete, resistance fighters had held advancing German soldiers for two days, preventing them from reaching Paleochora to secure it. In retribution the occupiers razed the village to the ground and erected a sign: "Here stood Kandanos, destroyed in retribution for the murder of 25 German soldiers, never to be rebuilt again."

The town was rebuilt however, and the sign retained in a war memorial. Several of the Byzantine churches and their frescoes were restored. Germany donated a waterworks after the war to the village and former soldiers stationed there returned in reconciliation.

There is a health center, a police station, a bank branch, a post-office and some stores, taverns and cafes in the village. The municipality also includes 28 villages, like Anisaraki, Koufalotos, Plemeniana, Kadhros, Kakodiki and Floria.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kandanos is twinned with:

Country Town Since
Slovakia Slovakia Ostrý Grúň 1987
Djibouti Republic of Djibouti Arta

See also

References

  1. ↑ De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
  2. ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)

External links

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