The Greek Ministry of Environment has dispatched a special task force, accompanied by financial police, for a spot inspection of the Schinias National Park, part of the EU’s Natura 2000 ecological network, regarding illegal bungalows in the wake of relevant media reports and complaints.
The order for the inspection was issued by Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou following media reports and formal complaints regarding serious urban planning violations and breaches of the area’s protected status.
According to public broadcaster ERT, the matter has caused an uproar among the local community, with numerous complaints. The bungalows—though deemed illegal by the Marathon local Urban Planning Authority—remain in place and are advertised as holiday rental properties. The competent public agencies have issued demolition ordinances, but the owner has repeatedly appealed in court, stalling enforcement while continuing to profit financially and further degrading the protected area.
These short-term rentals are reportedly facilitated through specialized websites that are difficult to find via standard search engines, requiring direct access to the booking link. Indicatively, a 115 m² unit with four bedrooms is offered at €4,500 for a 15-day stay—equivalent to €300 per night.
The inspectors will assess the legality of the constructions and the operational conditions of the tourist complex, which, according to media reports, was built on forest land within the national park without the necessary building permits.
The Schinias National Park is located to the northeast of Athens and is a combination of wetland, agricultural fields, pine forest, sandy beach, and rocky hills is host to many different bird species.
The Ministry of Environment, in a statement, said it would remain firm on any violations of the urban construction or ecological laws.
Meanwhile, the public prosecutor ordered an urgent preliminary investigation into the case following the media reports. The inquiry aims to determine whether criminal offenses—both felonies and misdemeanors—have been committed.
