Environment Museum of Stymphalia

About the museum

The Stymphalia Environment Museum has operated since 2010 on a hill among the wooded mountains around Lake Stymphalia. It belongs to the Municipality of Sikyonia (formerly the Municipality of Stymphalia) and is managed by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation. The plot was made available by the former Municipality of Stymphalia and the Forestry Service of Corinthia, and the project was funded by the Peloponnese Operational Programme 2000–2006, with the support of Piraeus Bank.

The building makes use of the climatic features of the site, such as cool breezes in summer and solar energy in winter, and has views of the lake. In 2008 it received a special mention in the awards of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture and was included in the book The Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture.

The first section of the exhibition presents the environment of the area, Lake Stymphalia and Mount Zireia, which belong to the Natura 2000 network, as well as the catchment basin, the largest mountain basin of the Peloponnese. The second section shows how the environment shaped human activities and traditional trades, and tells the history, folklore and daily life of Stymphalia through the centuries, with artistic works, models, digital reconstructions and documentaries. In the open aquarium visitors see a cross-section of the lake with live fish and plants of the area.

Highlights

• Award-winning building with views of Lake Stymphalia
• Open aquarium with live fish and plants of the lake
• Exhibition on the environment, history and folklore of Stymphalia
• Satellite application on changes in the lake landscape since 1972
• Educational programmes for schools

Permanent exhibition

• Μόνιμη έκθεση: το περιβάλλον και ο άνθρωπος στη Στυμφαλία – Two sections on the natural environment of the area and on the history, folklore and traditional trades, with an open aquarium and a satellite application on changes in the lake landscape.

Founded

2010

Operated by

Πολιτιστικό Ίδρυμα Ομίλου Πειραιώς

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 18 May (International Museum Day), 5 June (World Environment Day) and the last weekend of September (European Heritage Days).

Free admission is also available for, among others, teachers, academics, guides, journalists, members of ICOM and ICOMOS, unemployed people, members of large and single-parent families and people with disabilities together with their companion.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is a lift, toilets for people with disabilities and a wheelchair available for loan. A leaflet in Braille is available, in Greek and English.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

In the open aquarium children can climb into a boat and see the life of the wetland at close quarters. Educational programmes are offered for schools, from nursery to upper secondary.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on a hill among the wooded mountains around Lake Stymphalia.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

There is a snack bar and a shop (MUSEUMSHOP), free Wi-Fi, free car parking and an automatic external defibrillator.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit