The village of Vamvakou is one of the most successful examples of regeneration in Greece, which has also included Roots Tourism. Founded in the 15th century, this medieval village in Mount Parnonas, Laconia (Peloponnese), reached a population peak of 1,500 in the late 19th century. Emigration to Greek cities and abroad gradually eroded the local economy and society leading Vamvakou to become a ghost village after the 1940s. This was a dramatic period that saw fierce resistance to the Nazi Occupation (1941-1944) followed by atrocities during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949). Diaspora families originating from Vamvakou, led by the famous shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, nonetheless continued to support the few remaining villagers in the post-war period.

Finally, the Vamvakou Revival Organization, a social cooperative enterprise was created in 2018 with support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), envisioning Vamvakou as a "model village" based on sustainable development and community regeneration. Vamvakou Revival has since been leading a holistic initiative around tourism, culture, agri‑food, innovation and entrepreneurship to bring back permanent residents and jobs. The initiative explicitly aims to serve as a blueprint for rural regeneration that can be replicated in other villages in Greece and abroad, using a holistic, multi‑pillar approach that builds a new functioning community.

A year‑round restaurant‑café and two guesthouses have been established offering activities such as hiking, mountain biking and yoga, while trails around the village have been upgraded to international specifications. Signature events include the Vamvakou Mountain Run, the Vamvakou Experience Festival, Vamvakou Summer Camp and Vamvakou Santa School. The Vamvakou Experience Festival, held every early July, has grown to over 2,500 participants. The village school has been transformed into a multipurpose activity space, seminar venue and coworking space for digital nomads, while the Vamvakou Technology Lab (V.Lab) offers workshops in robotics, 3D printing and virtual reality. Collaborations with the Greek National Opera, UCLA and NYU help position Vamvakou as a rural cultural hub.

Vamvakou Revival also works to develop and promote local agricultural products and supports the operation of the Vamvakou Agricultural Cooperative "Parnon Poèma" and the Women's Cooperative of Vamvakou, "Vamvakia." A clear indication that everything is coming together is the fact that the number of permanent residents has increased from 9 in 2019, to 30, currently including young families who have relocated to Vamvakou. 

The Vamvakou Experience Festival taking place this weekend 4-5 July 2026, is a great opportunity to visit the village and witness that "roots are the most natural network still connecting everything"! 

For more information on Vamvakou visit:
https://www.vamvakourevival.org/ 

For more information on Roots Tourism see 
the Erasmus+ Project "Foster Competencies on Roots Tourism in VET Schools to Promote Sustainable Tourism and Destinations in Europe", co-funded by the EU.
https://roots-tourism.eu/