Askos Stone Park

The Askos Stone Park on the Ionian island of Zakynthos is a wildlife sanctuary, a forest reserve, a natural zoo, an agricultural research ground, and even an archaeological site all on a 124-acre land. Nature lovers and children will love a visit to the part of the park that is open to visitors, while the rest of the area is used for fruit and animal food farming and as a forest for the animals of the park to roam freely.

Askos Park opened to visitors in 2002. The park gets its name from the stone structures on the site which include stone pavements, walls, old stables and cellars built with wood and stone and the famous basins carved in stone. They were made around 600 years ago for collecting rainwater.

Once you enter the park you can collect a bottle of water and walk along the pavement through the park. Almost all of the flora and fauna of the park are self-grown. Fruits are supplied for sweet production.

The pride of Askos Park is its animals that thrive in their natural habitat. Visitors will encounter hawks, doves and grand peacocks in the park, while in divided sections are deer, rabbits, ponies, cows and horses, goats and sheep, water turtles and the squirrel and small chinchilla families. Note that the Platonia deer which are becoming rare in the world as well as raccoons from North America have also found lodging there. The keepers and guides will help you to feed the animals while you can even try a hand at milking the cows or collecting the olives if it’s possible.

Visiting is recommended when the sun is not as high as the animals may be in the shade.