Rare Super 8mm Film Reveals 1980s Vryses Before Modern Crete

Friday, 1 May 2026/Source: CretaOne/1 min read

A rare Super 8mm color film has resurfaced, offering a vivid look at Vryses, a village in the Apokoronas region of Chania prefecture, as it appeared in the 1980s. The footage captures everyday life, local architecture, and the natural landscape of this inland Cretan community before modern development altered the area. Vryses sits at the junction of the main road connecting Chania city to Rethymno and the road leading south to the coastal town of Hora Sfakion. It is a common stop for travelers crossing the White Mountains, known for its plane trees and freshwater springs. The village remains a working rural community with a handful of traditional tavernas. The film serves as a reminder of how dramatically Cretan villages have changed over four decades, and Vryses is worth a short stop for travelers passing through the Apokoronas area.