Kontopouli is one of the largest villages of east Limnos, 29 km away from Myrina. During the interwar period and until 1940 it was the third largest village of Limnos. It was possibly named by the Byzantine landowner Kontopoulos, who donated parts of his land to the Great Lavra monastery. In 1918, when it became a commune, its name was officialy changed to Kontopoulion.
On the village’s entrance to the left, above the road, you are able to visit the primary school that is hosted in the building dated in 1925, the Dimitriadis School, which was built with donations by the Egyptian Limnians.
Near the primary school you will stumble upon the Holy Temple of Agios Dimitrios, which was built using materials from the ruins of ancient Hephaestia.
Reaching the multi-flat village square your attention will be drawn by the emblematic building of 1930, the old Athanassios Lyristis Grocery, which was used as a command center by the Germans during the occupation and by the small church of Agia Anastasia. At the bottom you can rest under the palm trees by the elaborate faucet. The main square is the venue for locals and visitors as there are numerous restaurants, taverns and cafés on the square. By continuing your walk in the narrow alleys of the bottom, you will also meet the old stone-carved fountain, made in 1927.
Giannis Ritsos spent the years of his exile, during the civil period, in Kontopouli, but the building today remains abandoned.
Nowadays in Kontopouli a flour mill is active, as well as a pottery workshop and a cultural association with high number of activities.
