Fourni Wood
Fourni is a small lush hill green next to the picturesque Arhanes village, about 12km south of Heraklion, bounded to the west by the Gorge of Archanes and to the west by the valley of Archanes. It is known for the preminoan cemetery of Fourni at its south part, one of the largest of its era in South Aegean. Fourni can be accessed mainly through the village Kato Arhanes, where you’ll meet signs leading there, but also through hiking trails from Epano Archanes and the aqueduct of Morozini in Karydaki.
On the hill of Fourni there is a small pine grove with wooden benches and tables. Although it is artificial, Fourni is really beautiful and is frequenlty visited by the residents of Heraklion city. There are plenty of pine and cypress trees that stand next large rocks. The woods in Fourni is ideal for hiking and its numerous paths have made that popular for mountain biking. Moreover, there is a beautiful stone theater, where the views to Archanes and to Dia Island are amazing.
A little further from the theater, you’ll find the archaeological site of the pre-Minoan cemetery Fourni (2400AD-2200AD). Fourni is still under excavations, which have revealed several important objects, mainly from graves. The objects found, indicate clearly that Archanes had close relations with the Aegean, Egypt and the Middle East. The most important finding was the unlooted sarcophagus of the "Queen", where jewelry (over 140 pieces) and other items were found, but also remnants of sacrificing an ox and a horse. Many of the findings are exhibited in the archaeological museums of Archanes and Heraklion.
In the middle of the last century, Fourni was a dry rocky mountain that belonged to the community of Kato Archanes. The community had offered the land for the building of the University of Crete. However, this idea was rejected and the hill has turned to this small green oasis.
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