Belles WWII Memorial Center
In Neo Petritsi, Serres, on the southeastern foothills of Mount Belles, stands the Belles WWII Memorial Center — a living monument that narrates the story of the Battle of the Forts and the events that unfolded on the emblematic Kerkini/Belles mountain range in 1941. The Center was created by the Social Cooperative “Agkistro Action,” aiming both to preserve historical memory and to promote Memory Tourism in the northern part of the Serres region.
Here, visitors do not simply encounter exhibits, they experience a complete journey that brings to life the events of 1941 on Mount Belles. Authentic artifacts, photographs and documents, along with modern interactive media and virtual reality (VR) applications, vividly portray the Battle of the Forts.
In the main hall, visitors travel back in time and discover the story behind the construction of the Metaxas Line, the largest engineering project undertaken in Greece during the 20th century. The exhibition presents key elements of this monumental work — designed by Greek engineers, built by Greek hands and funded entirely with Greek resources — while its innovative construction methods continue to inspire admiration even today.
A particularly moving highlight is the interactive figure of a worker from the Cyclades, who was brought blindfolded to the summit of Mount Belles to contribute to the fort-building effort. This human touch brings forward the hardship and self-sacrifice of those who labored on this colossal project.
The exhibition then presents the five forts of Mount Belles (Popotlivitsa, Istibei, Kelkagia, Arpalouki, Paliouriones) along with the 9+1 standalone concrete pillboxes of the western massif, including the legendary P8 of Dimitrios Itsios, all of which played their own significant role in the events of 1941. A three-dimensional representation of Belles offers visitors a complete view of the mountain, accurately depicting its terrain, its forts and the line of pillboxes. Through this vivid presentation, the full extent of the defensive works on the steep slopes becomes clear, helping visitors understand their strategic placement and decisive role in the Battle of the Forts.
The daily life of the soldiers before the German attack is also portrayed here through evidence found inside abandoned galleries of the Metaxas Line. Moving letters to families, improvised playing cards for moments of rest, newspapers read by officers and other personal belongings bring to life the human world of the garrison, drawing visitors closer to the anxiety, anticipation and quiet hope that preceded the battle.
In the section dedicated to the German attack and the Battle of the Forts (6–10 April 1941), the struggle fought on Mount Belles during those five days is presented in a clear and accessible way. The story unfolds day by day, through testimonies and audiovisual material, conveying to visitors the tension and atmosphere of the battle. A specially designed display case evokes the battlefield, showcasing authentic relics found on the front lines: helmets, magazines, shell casings and other objects. Each item adds a piece to the mosaic of historical memory, bringing the 1941 front to life and revealing the harsh reality of the clashes.
Yet the experience goes even further. If the old telephone on the wall rings, the visitor can lift the receiver and hear the voice of the Kelkagia fort commander, Tilemachos Zakynthinos, moments before the underground galleries were flooded with gas released by the Germans to force the defenders to surrender. It is a moment that stirs emotion and sends a shiver through the listener, placing them face to face with the human dimension of the battle.
In the VR ROOM, visitors have the opportunity to walk through a Metaxas Line fort exactly as it was on the eve of the German attack. They can explore the underground galleries, see the soldiers’ quarters with their neatly arranged bunks and even climb into the fort’s single machine-gun nest, experiencing the atmosphere of the era.
At the same time, in the specially designed projection space, short films about the Battle of the Forts are screened, enriching the experience and offering visitors a complete picture of the events of 1941.
Opening Hours
Friday: 17:00 – 20:00Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 – 18:00Public Holidays: 11:00 – 18:00
📍 Scout Park – Neo Petritsi
📌 Scouts’ Square
🎟️ Free Admission until 9/11/2025
📞 Tel.: +30 6955564304
