Marathon: Ancient History and Running Tradition

Marathon brings together the memory of an ancient battle and the history of the marathon race. Lake Marathon adds a scenic focal point in the surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can explore a range of interests—from historic sites and running traditions to the lake’s creation.

Lake Marathon in the Surrounding Area

Lake Marathon was created after the construction of the Marathon Dam, where the Haradros and Varnavas streams meet. Its creation is therefore closely linked to the dam and the two streams. The lake lies in the surrounding area and offers a different point of interest from Marathon’s historic memorial sites. If you would like to combine landscape and culture on your trip, you can consider these separately and then decide what you would like to shape your stay.

The Tomb and Tumulus: Memorials to Antiquity

The Tomb of Marathon is also known as Soros. It lies near the site of the battle in 490 BC between the ancient Athenians and the Persians. The tomb is 42 kilometres from Athens and provides a specific point of reference for understanding the region. The Marathon Tumulus is also located in the surrounding area. It was built after the battle and measures 50 metres in diameter. The remains of 192 Athenian fighters who fell at Marathon were buried in the tumulus.

The Marathon Race and Its History

The annual international marathon starts at the Tomb of Marathon and commemorates Spyros Louis’s victory at the 1896 Olympic Games. The historic settlement of Marathon has start facilities for the annual international marathon over the classic distance. Running tradition is also the subject of the Marathon Run Museum: its permanent exhibition explores the history of the Olympic marathons from 1896 to 2000. This period spans the milestone of Spyros Louis’s victory through to the year 2000. The historic settlement of Marathon is also home to the Marathon Race Exhibition Center.

Another annual event connected with the tomb is the March for Peace. It begins at the Tomb of Marathon and ends in central Athens. The march commemorates its first edition in 1963, organised by the Greek politician and pacifist Grigoris Lambrakis. The sporting competition and the peace march therefore mark different historical themes, even though both begin at the Tomb of Marathon.

More Cultural Highlights in the Municipality

The Municipality of Marathon is also home to the Varnavas Interactive Agricultural Folklore Museum. Its collection comprises 5,000 exhibits. The museum’s name itself places agriculture and folklore alongside the ancient memorial sites and the history of running. This adds further cultural highlights in the municipality to the historic sites and sporting themes.

When choosing a holiday rental in Marathon, it can help to first decide what you are most interested in. If you mainly want to explore the ancient history of the tomb and tumulus, your focus will differ from that of a trip centred on the history of the Olympic marathons. Lake Marathon adds a scenic point of interest in the surrounding area, while the museum in the municipality offers another cultural perspective. These distinctions can help you choose what you would like to shape your stay, without grouping everything together as a single excursion destination.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Drafi, Kryonéri, Kalyvia Thorikou, Varnavas, Kalamos, Sounion, Voula, Kato Posidonia.

See the main travel overview: Ostattika.