The obvious and the incredible: Meteora in Greece. How to get to the Greek monasteries of Meteora? Rules for visiting Meteora monasteries on the map of Greece

Basic moments

The name "Meteora" comes from the word meteorizo, which means "floating in the air." This is the most accurate description of the appearance of the monasteries. When clouds of fog envelop the mountain slopes in the early morning, the buildings towering above them seem to float above the clouds. The heyday of the Meteora monasteries occurred at the end of the Middle Ages - at that time there were 24 monasteries and hermitages. Today, only 6 monasteries remain inhabited. Four of them are male: Great Meteor or Megalo Meteoro (Preobrazhensky), St. Varlaam, St. Nicholas Anapavsas and the Holy Trinity. Two monasteries - female: St. Stephen and Rusanu Monastery (or St. Barbara's Monastery). Although the remaining 18 monasteries lie in ruins, in some places hermits still live in them, wanting to preserve the cultural and spiritual heritage of Byzantium.

View of the Thessalian plain

The very first monasteries in the mountains appeared in the 11th century. Hermits fled from the bustle of the world in order to continue their service to the Lord without interference, and settled in simple mountain caves. As their numbers grew, the monks united into a monastic community, similar to the spiritual republic on Mount Athos.

Just a few hermits founded the very first monastery, Dupiani, now completely destroyed. Only a small chapel from the 13th century remains as a witness to their asceticism.

In 1334, the monk Athanasius arrived at the Meteora monasteries. With his arrival, monastic life truly began to flourish in the region. In 1370, he, together with 14 monks, climbed the highest rock and founded the monastery of the Great Meteor, also known as Metamorphosis (i.e. Transfiguration). Occupying an area of approximately 60,000 sq. m, Meteora is one of the largest monastic complexes. According to legend, an eagle, or even an angel, carried Athanasius to the mountain peak. This monk first defined the rules of behavior that others were expected to follow, observing the laws of monastic life in Meteora. Over time, he and his followers founded several more monasteries around.

Today, only 6 of the 24 monasteries are inhabited. In the monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas, in the chapel of John the Baptist, the skulls of all the monks who ever lived in this monastery are stored on shelves in even rows. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with frescoes by Feofan Strelidzas (c. 1500-1559), an outstanding icon painter of the Cretan school - a group of artists that included the famous El Greco. Monastery of Saint Rusanu (or St. Barbara's Monastery) was founded in 1388. Reconsecrated in 1950, it was more often than others subjected to looting and desecration. His frescoes of the 16th century. are incomparable masterpieces. The monastery of St. Varlaam was built from 1518 to 1535, and in the travel diary of 1779 it is mentioned as a monastery for women.

The Great Meteor, the largest complex, was named so by its founder Athanasius in honor of the massive stone pillars that seemed to hang in the air, called Meteora. Until 1923, when roads were built to the monasteries and 143 stone steps were made to climb, monks and visitors could only enter the monasteries by hanging stairs or with the help of monks who lifted them in special nets. In the same way, all the building materials for the construction of monastic buildings, as well as food and other things necessary for monastic life, were raised to the top of the rocks.

With the exception of Agios Stefanos (St. Stephen), quite easily accessible, you can get to the monasteries by climbing steep stone stairs, sometimes numbering over a hundred steps. The monks are accustomed to visitors, but wanting to preserve the sacred character of these places, they require an appropriate appearance. Men, women and children must have their arms covered, at least to the elbows; Pants are required for men and long skirts for women.

Kalambaka

At the foot of the very cliffs where the Meteora monasteries were built, the highest of which reach 300 m, is the city of Kalambaka. After World War II it underwent large-scale reconstruction. It is worth visiting the city cathedral, the construction of which was partially made using materials from ancient buildings. You can see frescoes from the 16th century and an amazing marble pulpit - in fact, it is a pulpit, dating back, like the canopy, to the early Christian era.

The village of Kastraki, located two kilometers from the city, surrounded by vineyards, is also worthy of your attention.

Behind Kastraki, on the left side of the road, is one of the smallest monasteries of Meteora. The same tiny church is decorated with delightful frescoes of the early 16th century by Theophrastus of Crete, who also worked on Mount Athos. The Last Judgment, written on the partition between the narthex and the choir, makes an indelible impression. From here, in about an hour and a half, you can walk to the Varlaam Monastery.

Also very small, this monastery (XVI century) huddles on a narrow rock, accessible by a suspension bridge. The location of the monastery is its highlight: the backdrop is an incredible ensemble of rocks carved by water, winds and temperature changes. It is always popular among mountaineering enthusiasts.

A short time later the road forks. The left one leads to the 16th-century Varlaam Monastery, built on a narrow platform on top of a cliff. Having walked all 130 steps and stepped through the threshold, you will find yourself in a sun-drenched church courtyard. Inside, be sure to look at the painting depicting the saint grieving over the vanity of this world in front of the skeleton of Alexander the Great. The amazing fresco of the Last Judgment on the wall opposite the choir deserves special attention. Visitors can also tour the basement and the room where the press is installed, as well as look at the operation of the lift.

At the same height as Varlaam is the Great Meteor, also called the Transfiguration Monastery, founded by the very first in the middle of the 14th century on the highest rock. To get to it, you need to go down 106 steps, then go up 192... Despite frequent destruction, the Great Meteor has preserved priceless evidence of Byzantine art, in particular the embroidered robes of priests and severe frescoes. The Church of the Transfiguration is famous for its wooden iconostasis. Nearby you can see the old dining room, kitchen, many rooms where various classes were held, and an ossuary with the skulls of deceased monks. The balcony offers a stunning view of the Varlaam complex.

Monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity)

One of the most rarely visited and most secluded, the monastery of Agia Triada (The Holy Trinity) built on top of a huge rock, which from a distance appears to be floating in the air. Although part of it was built in the 15th century, it lacks unity due to the modern buildings attached.

Monastery of Agios Stefanos (St. Stephen)

The last monastery you'll discover is also the most easily accessible, thanks to a pedestrian bridge that connects it to the road. This place is famous for its views of Kalambaka and the Thessalian plain. The former dining room has been converted into a museum, the most complete in Meteora, where icons, religious objects, painted manuscripts and embroideries are exhibited. The only church was built only in the 18th century.

On the territory of the monastery of Agios Stefanos

Climbing monks

No one knows exactly how the first monks managed to climb the Meteora rocks. Incredible fairy tales make the imagination imagine huge paper kites, ropes tied to the paws of a hawk, the construction of scaffolding, giant trees - everything with the help of which one could climb... It is possible that once upon a time shepherds and hunters suggested the path to the monks, known to them alone. They soon began to use a rope ladder, which was later replaced by a net or some kind of basket, tied with a rope and lifted with a winch. It took about half an hour to reach the highest cliffs. If you believe the records of travelers of old, the rope was changed only after the old one broke! These structures can still be seen, now powered by an electric lift. Today they are designed for cargo, and visitors prefer to climb on foot.

Mesmerizing cliffs of Meteora monasteries

Chronology

11th century: The first hermits settled in mountain caves.
OK. 1370: Monk Athanasius founded Megalo Meteoro.
1939-1945: Bombing during World War II takes a heavy toll on the monasteries.
Since 1972: Reconstruction of all functional monasteries continues.
1988: The Meteora Monasteries are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Meteora in Greece is a complex of Orthodox monasteries built on inaccessible cliff tops on the Thessalian plain. Losing their religious significance, the monasteries are becoming an increasingly popular tourist attraction. How to get to Meteor by car or public transport, and what their opening hours are - read on.

Despite the fact that Meteora in Greece is still an Orthodox monastery, this does not mean that a trip here will be of interest to purely religious people. The whole unusual thing about this place is that monasteries on the tops of the pillars began to be built back in the 14th century, despite the fact that the steps along the steep cliffs were laid no more than 100 years ago - before people climbed here either by hanging stairs or by steep steps cut right into rock. Building materials, as far as historians know, were even lifted up in wicker nets.

The rocks themselves are of great interest from a geological point of view - they were formed tens of millions of years ago, when the entire territory of today's plain was the bottom of the sea. In the Paleogene era (about 60 million years ago), after a series of earthquakes, the rocks were “squeezed out”, after which all this time until the present day they were destroyed due to water and wind erosion, which is what accounts for their impressive appearance today.

The place for the construction of the monasteries was not chosen by chance: back in the 10-11th century, religious hermits began to settle in the numerous rocks within the walls of the caves. True, why exactly in these rocks is not entirely clear. Nevertheless, this is how small communities, monasteries, and later large monasteries began to form.

Monasteries today

In total, during the heyday of the monastic commune, there were 24 monasteries, but over time many were abandoned, looted and destroyed. Some of them don’t even have ruins left that even slightly resemble their former buildings. What made matters worse was the fact that, due to paved roads and stone steps, the tops of the cliffs were no longer so inaccessible.

Today, out of the entire complex, there are only 6 monasteries - 2 for women and 4 for men. But the number of monks here, despite the fact that this is one of the largest centers of Orthodox monasticism in Greece, is ridiculously small: in the once largest monastery - Megala Meteora - only 3 (!) people lived in 2016.

That is why the entire monastery complex is irrevocably losing its religious value, and is increasingly becoming a tourist attraction.

Procedure for visiting monasteries

Anyone can visit the monasteries and look at the old architecture, frescoes, icons and other creations that the inhabitants of the monasteries left behind. Admission is free for Greeks and 3€ for citizens of other countries.

It is worth knowing that each monastery has its own work schedule, and the schedule differs in winter (from November 1 to March 31) and in summer (from April 1 to October 31):

Transfiguration Monastery (Great Meteor or Megala Meteora) - from 9 to 16 in winter, from 9 to 17 in summer, closed on Tuesday and Wednesday in winter, on Wednesday in summer;
Varlaam Monastery - from 9 to 16 all year round, closed on Thursday and Friday in winter, only on Friday in summer;
Monastery of the Holy Trinity - from 10 to 16 in winter and from 9 to 17 in summer, closed on Wednesday and Thursday in winter, on Thursday in summer;
Monastery of Rusanu (St. Barbara) - in winter from 9 to 14, in summer from 9 to 16, closed all year round on Wednesdays;
St. Stephen's Monastery - in winter from 9:30 to 13 and from 15 to 17, in summer from 9 to 13 and from 15 to 17, closed all year round on Mondays;
Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas - in winter from 9 to 14, in summer from 9 to 15:30, closed all year round on Fridays.

That is, you can go here any day - at least something will be open. The main thing is to make it before 5 pm.

Meteora in Greece – how to get there

To the city of Kalambaka

Let's start with the fact that the closest city to Meteora is Kalambaka, it is located right at the foot of the cliffs. 11 thousand people live in the city, the tourist infrastructure is quite well developed there - there are hostels, hotels, restaurants and cafes. There is a railway station in the center.

Train Athens - Kalambaka - 350 km, you can get there by train in 5 hours and 14-23 €. There is only one direct train - in the morning at 08:30, all other options during the day - with a transfer;
Train Thessaloniki – Kalambaka – 250 km, the train travels from 3 hours, the ticket costs from 11 to 19 €. The direct train runs only in the evenings at 16:15. This is the most convenient option if you are vacationing at any resort in Halkidiki - in any case, you will first have to go to the nearest large city - Thessaloniki.

If you are traveling around Greece in a rented car, then you can easily reach this city using a navigator - there is no need to describe the entire route here.

To the monasteries themselves

The most interesting part is how to get from the city of Kalambaka to the monasteries themselves.

Bus. From Kalambaka, according to the summer schedule (from the beginning of April to the end of October), buses run daily at 9:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 16:00 (back - an hour later), passing the village of Kastraki. A one-way ticket costs about 2€. Detailed bus schedule.
Taxi. Taxi drivers are ready to take tourists to the monasteries; the cost of a trip from Kalambaka is about 10 €, from the village of Kastraki it will be a little cheaper.
By your car. Each monastery has a small parking lot, although there is a risk that the parking lot will be occupied by the aforementioned clumsy buses. In any case, before going to the monasteries, get a good navigator, since many tourists complain about the lack of clear signs to the monasteries on the roads.
On foot. From Kalambaka to the first monastery, walking 5 km is not much, but considering that the road goes uphill, the walk will bring little pleasure to an unprepared person. It would be a good idea to stop for the night in the village of Kastraki - it is located a little closer to the monasteries, and the nearest one can be reached on foot in just 10-15 minutes.

The monasteries of Meteora (Meteora) are undoubtedly one of the most stunning sights that the rich country has to offer. The buildings, perched atop seemingly inaccessible sheer stone spiers, are scattered across the plain north of the town of Kalambaka; “meteora” means “stones in the air” and the Turkish (more precisely, Ottoman) word “kalabak” has approximately the same meaning. Immediately upon arriving at this place, your gaze is involuntarily drawn to the closest and tallest of these stone cylinders.

The closest one on the right hand, the monastery of St. Stephen, sits comfortably and securely on a powerful stand. Behind it stretches a disorderly jumble of turrets, spiers, cones and blunt or rounded cliffs. All these are the remains of river sediments: in prehistoric times, the river flowed into the sea that covered the plain of Thessaly 25 million years ago, and flowing water, assisted by winds, created these bizarre shapes.

The monasteries of Meteora (Meteora) are as mysterious as they are spectacular. One legend claims that Saint Athanasius, who founded the Megala Meteora (Great Meteoron) - the very first construction of the complex - flew up to these celestial steeps on the back of an eagle. A more prosaic legend tells of the dexterity with which the inhabitants of Staia, a medieval village on the site of present-day Kalambaka, climbed mountains - these dexterous villagers helped the monks establish high-mountain monasteries. The inaccessibility of the rocks, not to mention the difficulties of construction in such places, is simply impossible to exaggerate: the German guide for climbers labels almost all Meteora routes “for advanced”, but this means experienced athletes with modern equipment.

The first religious communities appeared here at the end of the 10th century, when hermits alone and in groups settled in natural caves, of which there are many in the rocks. In 1336, two Athonite monks came to the places they had already inhabited: Gregory and his disciple Athanasius. Gregory soon returned to, but left his student in Meteora, ordering him to found a monastery. What this Athanasius did, shortly after 1344, whether with supernatural help or otherwise is not truly known, but he managed to establish a very strict and ascetic rule (laws that the monks followed). Very soon, seekers of the heavenly world began to flow into the monastery, and among the newfound brethren there were such characters as John Urosh Palaeologus, from the family of Byzantine Caesars, who abdicated the Serbian throne in 1381 and became, after tonsure as a monk, the monk Joasaph.

The presence of persons of royal and royal blood, of course, contributed a lot to donations to the monasteries, which rapidly multiplied in number, occupying all the accessible rocks, as well as many of the almost completely inaccessible cliffs. Meteora monasticism reached the highest point of its splendor during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566), when up to 24 monasteries and monastic hermitages existed on the tops of the cliffs. The largest of them became very rich, and not only due to one-time offerings, but also thanks to the constant influx of income from estates donated to the monasteries or left as an inheritance in distant Wallachia (now) and Moldavia or in Thessaly itself. They retained this property of theirs, more or less intact, until the 18th century, when here, as elsewhere in the world, the decline of monasticism and monasteries began.

Over the past centuries, fierce disputes about power and primacy have arisen among monasteries more than once. But the monasteries of Meteora faded not because of internal strife, but for natural and economic reasons. Many buildings, especially small hermitages, gradually deteriorated and collapsed without proper care. The greatest monasteries were noticeably depopulated in the 19th century, when the newly created Greek state established itself south of Meteora - Thessaly itself did not belong to it at first - and monasticism lost its long-standing exclusive role as a symbol and mouthpiece of Greek nationalism and resistance to Turkish rule. In the 20th century, the crisis only intensified: monastic lands and incomes, already greatly reduced compared to the former glory days, were taken away by the state under the pretext of providing assistance to refugees: after the Greco-Turkish wars of 1919-1922, the Greeks of Asia Minor were forced to move to their “historical homeland” .

By the end of the 1950s, only four active monasteries remained, desperately fighting for their existence and among themselves: it was necessary to divide the monks who were fleeing here, that is, barely a dozen monks. A brilliant chronicle of this era entitled “Rumeli” was compiled by Patrick Leigh Fermor. Then, however, Meteora, if not back on its feet, then slightly revived: the brethren increased in number due to the influx of young people seeking intellectual sobriety and the severity of traditional piety. But this respite turned into a mockery of fate: in the 1970s, the tourism industry reached Meteora. As a result, the four accessible monasteries, which managed to firmly establish themselves on the world map, thanks in part to cinema, including the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, turned into exhibition windows for displaying historical antiquities. And only two monasteries on the eastern side - Holy Trinity and St. Stephen -, as in the old days, pursue primarily religious goals.

Kalambaka town and Kastraki village

It will take a whole day to explore Meteora, which means you will have to stay at least one night in Kalambaka or, preferably, in Kastraki, 2 kilometers to the northeast: there is a better atmosphere and the rocks are very close. You can also enjoy walking along the stone pavements of the ancient upper part of the village. Accommodation in Kastraki is suitable for those who don't want to waste money without getting quality in return, and the two village campsites are among the best in the area.

Kalambaka town in Greece

Kalambaka cannot boast of any special attractiveness - except for its proximity to the rocks. The town is being improved, for example, there is a fountain in every square, but there are irreparable losses: during the Second World War, the Germans burned Kalambaka, and only a few pre-war buildings survived. True, among them is the ancient Metropolitan Cathedral, consecrated in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary - Kimisis tis Teotoku (daily 8:00-13:00 and 16:00-18:00; 2 €) - this is a couple of blocks up the hill from the now new active cathedral, at the very top of the village.

The church on the site of the ancient Temple of Apollo appeared in the 6th century, and in its improperly built walls one can see drums, crowns of columns and other fragments of ancient architecture, “recycled” by Christian architects. The inside of the vault is lined with wood, which is very unusual, but the interior volume of the middle nave is dominated by a large double pulpit made of marble - something unheard of for a Greek church; the central span itself is furnished with marble columns. Preserved - best in the narthex - Byzantine frescoes of the 13th and 14th centuries are dedicated to the miracles that Christ performed during His earthly ministry (“Healing of the paralytic”, “Storm on the Sea of Galilee”, “Resurrection of Lazarus”, “Marriage in Cana of Galilee” "), although there is a very convincing depiction of hellish torment on the southern wall.

Arrival, accommodation and meals in Kalambaka

The railway station is located on the ring road on the southern edge of the village. Buses entering Kalambaka stop at the central plateau of Dimarhiu, but the KTEL bus station is actually a little lower, downhill, opposite the railway station. There is no information desk for tourists in Kalambaka, so look for local information in a bookstore selling maps, guidebooks in foreign languages, newspapers and magazines - this is on the western side of the same square, on the corner of Ioanninon and Patriarhu Dimitriou. Those arriving by bus and train are usually greeted by barkers promising a good overnight stay. It’s probably better to avoid these figures and listen to our advice - there are too many complaints about bad rooms and the tricks of clever owners when making payments.

Don't expect much from the faceless hotels lining the main street either: they are filled with tourists from excursion buses, and the double-glazed rooms in the rooms do not protect against street noise. A good option for a tighter wallet is the inexpensive but welcoming Meteora Hotel on Plutarchou 13, a quiet side street on your right hand if you suddenly decide to walk from Kalambaka to Kastraki to reach the foot of the cliffs. There's a variety of air-conditioned and heated rooms to choose from, plus plenty of parking, breakfasts benefit from extras like homemade biscuits and cheeses, and hosts Nikos and Kostas Gekas are a wealth of useful information about the area.

In the upper and more village-like part of the town, about 700 meters from both main squares, near the Metropolis and the starting (also ending) point of the path to the Holy Trinity Monastery, there are two more standing shelters. On Kanari 5 is the Alsos House, which is richer in amenities. On the top floor there are rooms for two and three and suites for families and a well-equipped communal kitchen. The owner's name is Janis Karakandas and he speaks good English. Koka Roka Rooms offers rooms both with and without bathtubs, in short, the usual haven for tourists with backpacks. Downstairs they serve food from the grill (cheap and good food from €10), and the service, while slow, can be cheerful, and there is internet access.

Mid-range hotels include the Odyssion at the end of the highway that runs through the town, which is closer to Kastraki. The hotel is quiet because it is set back from the road. The rooms were mostly renovated in 2004, the floors are parquet or tiles, the bathrooms have a shower or bath. Breakfast is served in the new bright salon, there are also 6 multi-room suites in Kastraki, Archontiko Mesohori, but the archaeologists did not allow the owners to build a swimming pool and plant a garden behind the building. If you have your own transport, head east of the city to the family-run Pension Arsenis, which is worth doing for the bucolic atmosphere, high standard rooms and good restaurant there.

The food situation is the same as with hotels: there are plenty of average and below-average establishments, and there is plenty of public. The exception is Skaros, located 150 meters from the Divani Hotel on the eastern outskirts of the city (open all year round, if there is a large group, then in advance). Rarely does a tourist reach this point, but the locals know and appreciate excellent lamb kebab at a reasonable price, chops, and home-grown vegetables. In the center, on Platja Dimarhiu, Panellinion can be quite intimidating with its noisy decoration “in a rural spirit” and high prices, but the high price is justified by the high quality of products, wonderful black bread, fried new potatoes and generally good cuisine, so the establishment does not complain about the lack of customers .

Kastraki village in Greece

Kastraki from Kalambaka is a 20-minute walk along a traffic-filled and not very safe highway. The construction of a real walking trail starting at the old Metropolitan Cathedral has been delayed. During the season (May 15-September 15), buses run regularly between Kalambaka and Kastraki all day long. Arriving at the village from its lower edge, you will pass by the first of two local campsites - Camping Vrachos, where during the season the local equipment supplier also offers visitors sports adventures in the surrounding area. The second campsite - Camping Boufidhis-The Cave (May-October) operates on the upper edge of the road passing through the entire village, is a little more cluttered, but there is so much wonderful grass there (if the year is not dry), and the tents are in the shade, not to mention already about the luxurious location: on the far edge of the village and, therefore, closer to the rocks: the monasteries of St. Nicholas Anapavsas and Rusanou literally soar in height. Both campsites, as well as others on the roads to Trikala and , have swimming pools.

In the village there are dozens of rooms for rent, often of a very high standard, and five hotels. It is important to choose a place away from the main highway towards the monasteries - buses rattle along the highway every now and then all day long (and motorcycles and scooters rattle all night). Doupiani House has this quality, which is easy to find by signs generously placed along the highway, starting from the Cave campsite. The air-conditioned rooms have superb views, especially from the front, and owners Thanassis and Toula serve breakfast in the best hotel garden in Kastraki and can advise on the best places to start a hike or climb. But you need to book a room throughout the year - the demand for the hotel is such that a luxurious extension was built to the current building.

Further down the mountain and again at a decent distance from the highway are Ziogas Rooms, where the rooms are more spacious and have balconies, almost all of them have wonderful views, and in winter they turn on the heating. On the lower floor there is a large salon: breakfast is served in the morning, and a tavern is open there during the day. Near the road, but in a quiet place, you will find the friendly Tsikelli Hotel - rooms in pink and white, has its own parking lot and a cafe in the park. Opposite the extension to Doupiani House and Odysseon is the luxurious by Kastraki standards, built in 2007, with wooden floors Pyrgos Adrachti at the top of the old block, you have to climb, but there is a sufficiently large car park. Nearby is the Guest-house Sotiriou with five rooms, three of which have fireplaces, in a restored building from 1845.

Among a good dozen restaurants (predominantly psystarias), the best of the more or less universal establishments is probably Paradhisos on the road through the entire village: for a kebab with red bean salad and beer on a crowded terrace with an excellent view, they are unlikely to charge very much. Bakalarakia is good for a summer evening: the atmosphere, the terrace behind the church and below the central platia, this little kutuki does not disappear in winter: locals love it for its grilled dishes, salads, bacalaros and homemade wine. But if you have your own transport, do not be lazy and go - there are many signs - to Neromylos, which is on the far edge of the village of Dyava, 4 kilometers to the southwest. High ceilings, a fireplace, under the current owner’s grandfather, all this was a water mill: in the summer you will sit on the terrace next to the tanks in which trout splash. In addition to trout, there is also plenty of other things: meat and galotiri, vegetarian mezedes, and large portions are convenient to wash down with large sips of draft wine (it is light).

Visit to the monasteries of Meteora

All six main monasteries of Meteora are open to the public, but at different times. If you want to complete all the monasteries in a day, start your tour early to see the monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas, Varlaam and Megala Meteor before 13:00, leaving the monastery of Rousanou, Holy Trinity and St. Stephen for the afternoon. The highway from Kastraki to the monastery of St. Stephen is almost 10 kilometers, and the road narrows every now and then, and the cars do not slow down. If you are moving on foot, you better follow our advice; we tried to protect you as much as possible from asphalt with bitumen - trails and dirt roads will save you from this scourge. St. Stephen's Monastery is located in a cul-de-sac, whether you arrive on the highway or up the mountain trails; from the sign to Kalambaka on the highway, 6 kilometers are not at all in a straight line, almost reaching the Holy Trinity Monastery.

In season, there are buses from Kalambaka to Metalu Meteoru/Varlaam monasteries during the day (the 9:00 and 13:00 buses are more reliable), and even if you only travel part of the way by bus, you can spend more time sightseeing rather than traveling to them. You may need a map of the area, especially if you want to get off the beaten track. In Kalambaka they sell all sorts of nonsense, but at the newspaper and book point on the central platform two goods are worth the money asked for them: Panoramic Map with Geoiogy, jointly developed by the Swiss publishing house Karto Atelier and the Greek company Trekking Hellas: it’s like The view is from a bird's eye view, but quite accurate and suitable for following the main routes.

The booklet, produced by Road Editions, with Greek-only text (by Andonis Kaloiirou) and a topographical map on the back cover, is excellent and many will buy the booklet for the map alone. Before you set off, it's a good idea to stock up on food and drink for the day. Along the entire tourist route there are no more than a couple of stalls selling drinks and fruits - near the monasteries of Varlaam and Megala Meteora. Finally, don't forget to bring money: each monastery charges an entrance fee - now 2 €, and even students do not have discounts. There are strict requirements for clothing: women only wear skirts (not trousers), men wear long trousers (not shorts), and shoulders, regardless of gender, must be covered.

Guests are often provided with skirts or robes that cover everything that is required, but it is better not to hope for this. Finally, remember that any photography or video filming in the monasteries is strictly prohibited. In fact, it is better to come to Meteora out of season, when the trees have shed their leaves and the stone towers are covered with snow. In the middle of summer, commercialization and crowds (and mountains of garbage on the roads) can be depressing, all this fuss is very out of place next to an untouched, wild, romantic, spiritual valley. At such times, it is probably preferable to head to less visited monasteries, such as Ipapandi or Holy Trinity.

Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas

North of Kastraki, a winding road squeezes between the huge rocks of Aion Pneuma and Dupyani - the second is named after the barely visible hermitage chapel, one of the earliest monasteries here. To avoid walking along the highway (with traffic), go to the main square of the village and go out onto the street that starts at the northwest corner of the platia - it will then turn into a path. This trail passes directly under the amusing cave-chapel of Agios Yeoryos Mandilas - you can recognize this depression at the very bottom of the monolithic rock of Aion Pneuma by seeing the colored spots. These are votive offerings - the so-called mandillas (shawls, scarves, etc.) - that's why this St. George's shrine is designated by the epithet mandylas: once a year on April 23, a hundred of the most dexterous local youths (and about the same number of young people from all over Greece) climb or they climb a rope to the top of a cliff and take away the scarves that have accumulated over the year - for good luck.

The ceremony is always shown on TV, but not always everything goes completely smoothly: the climb to the rock is unusually difficult, many do not receive the blessing of St. George and are literally cast down - if not into the abyss, then from a considerable height. The chosen path will lead you in 20 minutes to the bottom step of a kind of flight of stairs. Climb the steps to reach the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Anapavsas (Monday-Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 9:00-15:30; access ends at 15:00; November-March). In the 1980s, the monastery was restored; pay attention to the excellent frescoes of the early 16th century in the katholikon (the main church of the monastery) - they were painted by the Cretan painter Theophanes. The tiny Catholicon faces, contrary to the canons, almost exactly to the north, and not to the east - we had to take into account the configuration of the rock.

On the eastern wall of the naos, the shocked student not only prostrates himself, but, it seems, makes a somersault over his head - such an unusual solution to the canonical “Transfiguration” plot is also explained by the limited space (and the ingenuity of the icon painter). In the fresco “The Denial of Peter” on the gate arch, the title character warms his hands over the fire in the predawn twilight. On the western wall of the narthex (narthex) there is a stylite (a hermit living on a pillar), in a wasteland inhabited by wild animals, and a servant collects provisions in a basket to then bring it upstairs - such scenes could very well have taken place here or nearby when the fresco was new.

But the desert fathers are rushing to the burial of the preacher Ephraim the Syrian (Saint Aphrem the Syrian): some ride on wild animals, others - the crippled or infirm - are carried on stretchers, some are carried on their shoulders and backs. In addition to the painting of Theophanes, there are also later images, distinguished by their simplicity: Adam naming the beasts - among which is written the basilisk - the legendary lizard-like creature that killed with its breath or gaze. Near the monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas, on the tip of a needle-shaped stone spire, the remains of a destroyed structure can be seen - these are the ruins of the walls of the monastery of St. Moni, abandoned after the earthquake of 1858.

Behind the ruins of the monastery of St. Moni, 250 meters from the parking lot and steps of the entrance staircase of the monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas, a paved path, partially shaded, branches off from the highway (signposts only to the monastery of St. Varlaam). After a 15-minute walk uphill, this path will lead you to an unmarked T-shaped fork: turning right, in 10 minutes you will be at the monastery of St. Varlaam, and turning left, in the same 10 minutes, but the climb will be steeper, you will reach Megala Meteora monastery. There is no other road between the monasteries (except for the cluttered access roads to both). If you first choose the Megala Meteora monastery, then to get to the monastery of St. Varlaam, you will have to go down to the fork and then go up to the second monastery.

Megala Meteora Monastery (another name is the Great Meteor or Transfiguration Monastery; summer Monday and Wednesday-Sunday 9:00-17:00; winter Monday and Wednesday-Sunday 9:00-46:00) - the most majestic and highest of all the monasteries : It is built on the rock Platis Litos (Wide Stone) at an altitude of 615 meters above sea level. He enjoyed great privileges, and for many centuries dominated the area, and in an 18th-century engraving (on display in the museum) he is depicted towering above the others. How Afanasy got to this rock remains a mystery.

The Catholicon of the monastery, consecrated in honor of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis), is the most magnificent in Meteora, a beautiful church in plan: a cross inscribed in a square, columns and beams support a kind of floating dome with the image of Christ Pantocrator in Glory written on it. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the temple was expanded, so that the original church, built in 1383 by the monk Joasaph, the former king, now merely serves as a “hieron” (sanctuary) behind an intricately carved temblon (“templon” - an altar barrier with an iconostasis). The frescoes, however, are relatively late (mid-16th century) and are inferior to the murals of other monasteries in artistic significance. The narthex (narthex) is painted almost exclusively with eerie and sad scenes of martyrdom.

Monastic chambers and other premises of the monastery occupy a vast vaulted massif of several buildings. In the “kellari” (basement storage) there is an exhibition of agricultural implements and peasant utensils. The refectory - under the dome and vaulted ceilings - is still furnished as if it served its original purpose: on the tables are traditional silver and pewter dishes for monastic meals. But now there is a museum here, on display are crosses with magnificent wood carvings and rare icons. You can look into the ancient kitchen adjacent to the refectory; it is also under the dome, but covered in soot: bread was baked in the oven, and stew was cooked on the fireplace.

Monastery of St. Varlaam

Monastery of St. Varlaam or All Saints (summer Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday 9:00-14:00; winter Monday-Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 9:00-15:00) - one of the oldest monasteries, standing on the site of a hermitage. , founded by Saint Barlaam - this figure played a key role in the history of Meteora shortly after the arrival of Athanasius in Meteora. The current building was founded by two Apsaras brothers from Ioannina in 1540-1544 and is considered one of the most beautiful in the valley. The Catholicon of the monastery, dedicated to All Saints (Aion Pandon), is small but brilliant: it is supported by painted beams, and the walls and pillars are completely covered with frescoes.

The dominant theme is not only desert living, which is appropriate in Meteora, but also martyrdom. The colorful “Last and Last Judgment” (1566) is very convincing: the gaping mouth of Leviathan devours the damned. But above the icons and murals reigns the majestic “Pantocrator” (Lord Pantocrator; 1544) on the inner of the two domes, and on the outer dome the magnificent “Ascension” is written. In the refectory there is a museum with an exhibition of icons, fabrics, decorated furniture and other church and household utensils. In another place they show a barrel in which the monks kept drinking water.

In the monastery of St. Varlaam, a lifting tower has been preserved: a not entirely safe receiving platform and a dubious, now unused, mechanism with a winch (later it was replaced by an electric winch), although now, as in the old days, ropes and a “basket” are in use. Until the 1920s, almost all the monasteries of Meteora could not be reached except through a wicker “net”, which was lifted up using a gate and a rope, or via an attached ladder that was then retracted, which was also hardly safe. Patrick Leigh Fermor tells a parable about one abbot who, being asked how often a rope was changed, answered: “When the old one breaks.”

The Bishop of Trikalsky ordered to break through the steps by which one can now climb to all the monasteries, clearly out of concern for his reputation, which, undoubtedly, could suffer if something happened to some careless stranger. So now ropes and baskets are used only for delivering supplies and building materials to the top, especially since there are also trailers of a cable car thrown over the abysses, which begins in the nearby car park.

Rusanu Monastery

To walk from the monastery of St. Varlaam to the monastery of Rusanou, it is recommended to descend from Varlaam along the access road to this monastery, about 150 meters, where this path connects with the access road to the Megala Meteora monastery. At the fence, get off the road and, without losing sight of the marks (spots of blue paint), choose from the paths those on which you feel a more or less decent path under your feet. This way you will pass by (and a little higher) several small rounded rocks, this is the so-called Plakes Kelaraka, to emerge immediately above a sharp bend in the road to the bottom of the ravine, where even in July you still come across puddles. Cross the stream bed and climb up the mountain to the far side of the ravine, and then take a right, towards the trees, and, squeezing through the woods, emerge, after about 50 meters, onto another path.

You will emerge onto the access road to the Rusan monastery - from the moment you parted with the monastery of St. Varlaam, 35 minutes will pass, and you will only have to overcome the last twenty meters of the road, severely disfigured by heaps of stone and debris. There is a path with many signs leading up to the 16th-century monastery; it is known not only as Rusanu (summer daily 9:00-18:00; winter Monday, Tuesday and Thursday-Sunday 9:00-14:00), but also as the Monastery of St. Barbara . You can get to the monastery in a different way, by going off the road onto the path and making a higher circle, but in any case, the last part of the path is on a shaky bridge thrown to the entrance to the monastery from a nearby cliff.

The location of the monastery puts Rusana out of the ordinary even in comparison with other monasteries of Meteora: all its walls turn into steep cliff edges with almost no gap. The narthex (narthex) of the main church of the monastery was painted in the 17th century with terrible scenes of various martyrdoms and executions, and the only thing you can catch your breath on, tired of contemplating these scenes, is a lion licking the feet of Daniel, thrown into a prison (to the left of the window). In the opposite corner, two not so friendly lions are devouring Saint Ignatius the God-Bearer. The Apocalypse is painted colorfully and with extraordinary vividness on the eastern wall (however, the Last Judgment is usually written on the western wall).

If you need to return from the Rusanou monastery directly to Kastraki, there is a wonderful trail that greatly shortens the path. Get out on the lower road to the monastery and walk downhill for about thirteen minutes so that, having passed the first sharp bend in the track, you come to a sign on the side of the road warning about the next sharp turn - there will also be something like a transformer substation with a support. Cross the path that goes sharply down and to the south, along the flow of the Paleokranjes stream, and follow it to a small pumping station on the above-described rural road Kastraki - the monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas. The journey will take about twenty minutes and you will save almost the same amount compared to the highway route.

Monastery of the Holy Trinity

From the bottom point of the lower approach path to the Rusan monastery, you can descend for about seven minutes until the first bend, then go to the path indicated by a sign to the Holy Trinity Monastery. After about 10 minutes of steep ascent, you will reach a ridge, behind which the uneven rocky canyon of Huni opens up - the Holy Trinity Monastery. There is no direct road from here, so turn left and follow the marks on the rocks - these are spots of red paint - you will climb (not so steeply any more) to a point where a bypass road after 600 meters will lead to your goal - the proposed route does not save much time on compared to a half-hour walk from the Rusanu monastery along the road, but much more pleasant. The final stage of the journey from the car park at the Holy Trinity Monastery (daily except Thursday: summer 9:00-17:00; winter 9:00-12:30 and 15:00-17:00) consists of 130 steps carved into a hole cut through the rock tunnel. You will emerge into a bright and airy manor house, which was renovated in the 1980s and 1990s.

Inside you will see small exhibitions of yarn, fabrics and kitchen and rural items, but instead of explanatory signs everywhere there are maxims from the 13th chapter of the Apostle Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians: “Love endures long,” “love is not provoked,” and so on. The frescoes in the Catholicon have been completely cleared and restored by restorers to their original shine, so you will not regret the time spent visiting the monastery. On the southwestern wall near the “Assumption” is written “The Betrayal of Judas,” but the thirty pieces of silver are not depicted by paint, but by real coins suspended from the image. Like other churches of Meteora, this one seems to have been built in two stages - judging by the two domes, and on both - the “Pantocrator” (the one above the temblon is very good), as well as two sets of evangelists on sails, under the dome . On the southern arch is painted a rare image of the beardless Christ Emmanuel, who is carried by four cherubs.

Relatively few buses with excursionists stop at the monastery, and life in the monastery remains monastic; now there are only four monks in the monastery, who maintain the monastery in a presentable form. Among them is Elder John, who has lived here since 1975 and could tell you how the Mother of God healed him of blindness in one eye (however, the monk’s second eye was still missing). Although the Holy Trinity Monastery is perched above a deep ravine, and the garden at its rear ends in a real cliff, there is a clearly visible and signposted path that starts at the lowest of the steps leading up to the monastery and goes straight to the upper part of Kalambaka. The descent will take you 45 minutes, and there is no need to walk for long along the ring road: the trail is partly paved and is generally in decent condition in any weather.

Monastery of St. Stephen

To the last and easternmost monastery of St. Stephen (Tuesday-Sunday: summer 9:00-14:00 and 15:30-18:00; winter 9:00-13:00 and 15:00-17:00) about 15 minutes walk from the Holy Trinity Monastery: you walk along the road (there is no path cutting off the corner), and around the bend suddenly the monastery of St. Stephen you need appears. This monastery is also active and is now for women: the nuns will try to sell you some trinkets.

The monastery suffered greatly from bombing in World War II and communist raids during the civil war. This monastery is the first on the list of attractions that you can skip if you don’t have enough time. It is, of course, impossible not to say that in the 15th century refectory there is a fresco painting of the Virgin Mary on the apse, and in the museum, a little further away, there is an excellent “Epitafios” - a tombstone embroidered with gold. The old path from St. Stephen's Monastery to Kalambaka is unused and unsafe: return to the Holy Trinity Monastery and descend along the route described above.

Other routes Meteora

After touring the monasteries, many visitors - especially in the off-season - are tempted to stay an extra day for the ambience that seems to be from another universe. Therefore, it makes sense to report on other places hidden among the rocks that promise complete solitude, and suggest how to get to them. More accessible than many others is the hike to the Holy Spirit Cave Church of Aion Pneuma. Starting from the Kastraki platia, take the path marked with boulders, which is higher and to the north of the square, and move northeast to the last house on this side of the ravine that divides the village in half. Behind this house you will see a clear, although not marked, path leading into the desert. After the trail passes through abandoned gardens and walnut groves, bushes and cobblestones left by rockfalls begin, and on your left hand you will see a stone wall - this is the Aion Pneuma monolith.

The Rusanu Monastery comes into view, and the path bends sharply and begins to descend into a ravine - or better yet, into a cleft in the rock. After about 35 minutes you will reach a flat platform hanging from a monolithic rock in both directions: to the right (to the west) on the layered surface of the rock the mouth of the cave temple of Aion Pneuma is blackened. A hermit once lived in the cave, and inside - in addition to whitewash and modern icons - you will see a coffin (sarcophagus) intended for his (disappeared) remains, which is also carved from stone. To the left of the entrance to the church is a cistern for rainwater, which the hermit drank. Connoisseurs and connoisseurs can spend a few minutes climbing to the top of the rock, where the bell tower is located and where excellent views open up.

If you have the strength and some skills, you can go to the outskirts of Kastraki to climb to the cave church of Agia Apostoli (Holy Apostles) - in all of Meteora there is no sacred monument at a higher altitude: this one is located on the top of a rock rising 630 meters. Behind the conspicuous village cemetery begins a noticeable path uphill, which in 15 minutes will lead you to the even more conspicuous stone “finger” of Adrahti, from which you will need a bit of composure: you will need to find a difficult-to-see continuation of the path over the steep edge of the ravine on the right, but hold on left side. For about five minutes you will move with difficulty on all fours, but then the real trail begins. At the very end there is the most risky moment: you will have to climb a ladder to the top of the cliff. This walk is not for those with a fear of heights.

Those seeking solitude can head to the outskirts to the cave church of Agios Andonyos (St. Anthony). On the south-eastern outskirts of Kastraki, opposite the Taverna To Harama tavern, turn onto a narrow road signposted in English "Old Habitation of Kastraki". After driving or walking along this path for a short time, bear right onto a single lane cement road which soon turns into a dirt road leading to a modern but beautiful chapel built in the traditional style. You can also get here by road starting at the top of old Kastraki).

In the east and a little higher, wedged into the front surface of the cliff, the restored St. Nicholas Monastery of Aiiu Nikolaou Bandovas (visitors are not allowed) is subordinate to the Holy Trinity Monastery and currently operates as a desert monastery. But you were walking (try to guess the sunset) for the cave church of Ayios Andonyos that suddenly appeared before your eyes, as if erupting from the Pixari rock (after restoration in 2005-2006, it was reopened to visitors). Next to it you will see many rickety wooden structures like stands: they are pushed into natural recesses in the rock, from which half-rotten ladders hang.

These tiny caves were inhabited not just by those who labored in the desert, but by the most severe ascetics, and although now only mountain pigeons live in the former ascetics (that is, the dwellings of ascetics; the Greek name is ascetics), they were inhabited for a very good part of the 20th century , and until the 1960s, on the day of remembrance of the patron saint of hermits, a monk in the rank of priest climbed into the cave every year and served the liturgy. Here, in a deserted wild wasteland, without souvenir shops, polyglot guides and excursion buses, aspirations for a “contemplative life” are found, which is how the permanent inhabitants of Meteora live.

Church of Timiou Stavrou in Greece

If you have your own transport, it is worth driving 42 kilometers west of Kalambaka, to the “flaming” medieval church of Timiu Stavrou (Honorous Cross), standing between the villages of Krania (on some maps: Kraneia) and Dulyana. The church itself, although built in the 18th century, looks older, and not because of its dilapidation, but because it appeared as a play on a capricious chance: the architects decided to combine the features of two models spotted in Romania and Russia. What they came up with was neither more nor less, but a dozen tower-shaped domes - the height is noticeably greater than the diameter - three above the nave, one above each of the three apses and six at the ends of the triple transept.

The outside of the church has been very well renovated, which was not hindered by either hasty post-war restoration (the Germans burned the church in 1943 in response to the partisan movement that had developed in the surrounding area) or construction using heavy equipment nearby. The terrace, equipped with a wooden table (and a water tap nearby), is a great place to have a picnic. And if you manage to ask permission to view it (the church is usually closed), you will see in the apse a syntrono - a stone bench that served as the bishop’s throne and survived the fire of 1943.

To get to the church, drive north from Kalambaka and after 10 kilometers do not take the Ioannina motorway, but turn left onto the narrower road to Murgani, the fork is colored with many direction signs to the highland villages. Persistently climb the mountain and, having crossed the spur of Mount Tringia, begin a steep descent into a densely forested valley at the headwaters of the Aspropotamos River: the scenery is considered one of the most beautiful in Pindus. From the unmarked tavern at the turn to Doliana, continue moving 5 kilometers south, to the bridge and the road to the left with a sign in Greek: “Pros Ieran Monin Timiou Stavrou Doulianon.”

This path after 700 meters will lead you to the church, located at 1150 meters above sea level. In the summer, almost every day a bus runs from Trikala to the village of Krania, closest to the church, stopping at the village platform, where the hotel and the Aspropotamos tavern are open (late June-August). From Crania, or directly from the church, you can drive another 7 kilometers to the Pyrgos Mantania Hotel or 17 kilometers to Tria Potamia, and from there, heading east and passing through Pertouli and Pyli, you can complete the loop and return to Trikala.

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On religious holidays, Orthodox residents of Greece go en masse to churches and monasteries. And, of course, many go to the famous Meteora monasteries. Although this miracle created by nature and man is much more popular, it is still among foreigners. Tourists and pilgrims from all over the world come here independently and with organized excursions.

Once there were 24 monasteries, now only ruins remain of most of them, but six are perfectly preserved. All of them are open to the public at certain times and days. This article will help you plan your own trip to Meteora.

If you are going to the monasteries on an organized excursion, then most likely they will only show you 2 monasteries. It is difficult to see more in the 2-3 hours you will be taken as part of a one-day tour to Meteora without an overnight stay. At the same time, you will get to the monasteries during the peak hours, when the stairs on the ascent and descent will be crowded, and in the summer under the scorching sun it is difficult to fully enjoy this miracle. Therefore, if possible, you should go to Meteora on your own or, if financial capabilities allow, with an individual guide.

How to get to Meteora by car from Thessaloniki

There are two roads leading from Thessaloniki to Meteora. The first route runs along the excellent E90 highway to Grevin and then along an easy serpentine road to Kastraki (a village at the foot of Meteora). Tolls for roads in total are 3.6 euros. The second route is along the coast, along the highway to Athens (E75), in the Larissa area turn onto E92 to Trikala and further to Kalambaki (a town at the foot of Meteora). This route will be more expensive, since there are a lot of toll points on the Athens highway. In total, you will have to pay about 9 euros at payment points.

In terms of time, both routes are approximately the same and will take a little less than 3 hours (if without stops). However, we recommend that you definitely plan stops, especially if you are driving through Pieria along the sea. There you can visit Olympus, have a snack in mountain villages, visit the fortress of Platamonas or ancient Dion, and in the season - swim on the beautiful beaches.

From the Chalkidiki peninsula to Meteora by car - time to Thessaloniki + the same 2.5-3 hours.

From the resorts of Pieria - the journey is no more than 2 hours.

People travel to Meteora from Athens, and even from the island of Corfu (first by ferry to Igoumenitsa, and then by road), but the journey in this case takes longer.

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Best season to travel to Meteora

The best time to visit Meteora is from April to early June or from late August to early October. In summer, these places are very hot and the temperature, even in the shade, can sometimes exceed 40 degrees. In spring, autumn or winter, pay attention to cloud cover when planning your trip. Rain and fog are not uncommon here in the off-season, and in poor visibility conditions, the monasteries on the rocks will be difficult to see. In winter, be careful on the roads, they may become icy. In addition, the monasteries operate on a reduced schedule during the winter.

Days of the week

During the summer period (from April 1 to October 31), when planning a trip on a certain day of the week, consider the following:

St. Stephen's Monastery is closed on Mondays.

The Great Meteor is closed on Tuesdays.

The Rusanu Monastery is closed on Wednesdays.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is closed on Thursday.

On Friday, two monasteries are closed at once - Varlaam and St. Nicholas.

On Saturday and Sunday, all monasteries are open to visitors, but on these days there can be especially many of them.

Best time of day for Meteora

The most beautiful time in Meteora is at dawn, at 6-7 am (depending on the time of year). It is then that, on observation platforms on open rocks, you can see how the monasteries around gradually begin to be filled with sun. There are few people at this time (professional photographers and romantic early risers), and you can thoroughly enjoy the beauty and grandeur of these places.

From the very opening of the monasteries, from 9.00 or even earlier, buses, minibuses and cars begin to pull up to them, gradually filling all the entrances and approaches to this attraction. The atmosphere changes dramatically and Meteora becomes the object of a highly developed tourism industry.

If you find yourself at the monasteries during peak hours and you have no other opportunity to visit, then we advise you to choose the quietest ones. For example, this is the lowest, closest to the village of Kastraki, monastery of St. Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos). Organized tourists are least often taken to it by bus.

On some days of the week, another beautiful and majestic monastery - the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) - is not crowded. It is the most difficult to reach. To get to it, you first have to walk quite a long way from the parking lot to the stairs, and then climb some very steep steps for several minutes, so buses bring tourists here only on days when other popular monasteries are closed.

The most convenient to visit, without a single step in front of the entrance, is the convent of St. Stephen. It is accessible even for people with limited mobility.

Great Meteor (Megalo Meteoro), Varlaam and the Rusanu convent are almost always crowded with visitors, so it is advisable to plan a visit to them either before opening at 9.00 or in the last hour before closing.

The monasteries of Varlaam and St. Nicholas close first (you must arrive at both of these monasteries no later than 15.00 in order to have time to get up and explore at a calm pace). The Great Meteor and the Holy Trinity are open to visitors until 17.00, and Rusan and St. Stephen - a little longer.

And, of course, the sunset in Meteora is unique. There are also a lot of tourists at sunset, but there is usually enough space for everyone to watch the sun setting behind the rocks.

What is the price

A visit to each of the Meteor monasteries is paid, entrance per adult is 3 euros, children under 12 years old are free. Greek citizens of any age also visit Meteora without paying.

It is not necessary to take special clothes with you; everything is available at the entrance to the monasteries. All women wearing too revealing clothing should wear skirts when entering and cover their shoulders with shirts. Men are also given long trousers if necessary (shorts cannot be entered into monasteries).

Additionally, you may need money for books, icons and souvenirs, some of which are very unusual. Books and maps can be found in different languages, including Russian. There are shops at every monastery, of which the most interesting, perhaps, is at the Varlaam Monastery. They also sell various things for tourists in front of the monasteries. Particularly brisk trade takes place in front of Varlaam, the monasteries of Great Meteor and St. Stephen.

Keep in mind that you can buy drinks and food at the top, but only in small vans in front of some monasteries, so it is better to stock up on the necessary provisions and especially water in the villages at the foot of Meteora.

Where to stay and eat in Meteora

If you are looking for a quieter place, it is better to stay in the village of Kastraki, or in the Kalambaki hotels closer to the pedestrian ascent to Meteora. If you are attracted to more lively places, feel free to settle in the center of the town of Kalambaka. You can eat in numerous taverns, restaurants or cafes in both localities. But if you don’t have a car, keep in mind that you won’t find normal shops in Kastraki, only small local shops, most often with inflated prices. All large supermarkets, pharmacies and other necessary establishments are located in Kalambaka.

What to see in the area

In addition to the monasteries, within a few kilometers of Meteora are the Theopetra Caves, the Museum of Natural History and Mushrooms and the Sarakina Bridge.

Things to do

Meteora is a fertile place for lovers of active tourism. On your own or with the help of professional guides, you can make walking routes (climbing) among rocks of varying difficulty. Meteora is also a paradise for climbers and mountain bikers.

Excursions to the monasteries of varying duration and intensity can be booked at travel agencies in Kalambaka. Detailed information about excursions can also be obtained from any local hotel.

What to take with you to Meteora

Comfortable shoes, a camera, and in summer a hat and sunscreen are a must.

Meteora monasteries photo

These stone sculptures are located near the city of Kalambaka, which is 300 km from Athens. The average height of the rock formations is 300 meters, but some of them reach 600 meters in height.

Many modern climbers do not risk climbing the round, almost vertical walls of unusual rocks. But, looking up at the tops of the pillars, you can see that there is a temple on almost every one of them.

Along winding mountain paths you can climb to the tops of many pillars, from where you can enjoy a picturesque view of the valley of the Pinhos River. According to legend, the first hermit monks appeared in these inaccessible and rocky cliffs, cut off from the world, back in the 9th century. They lived in rock cavities and natural caves, and nearby they created small areas for joint study of spiritual texts and prayers. Later, constant raids by robbers forced the monks to leave their caves and build monasteries on the tops of the cliffs.

It is difficult to even imagine how much labor was required to build these monasteries in such extreme conditions. Until 1920, temples were closed to outsiders - the monks led a very secluded lifestyle, and food was delivered to them by residents of neighboring cities. Transportation of parcels to the tops of the rocks was carried out using ropes and baskets.

At the foot of the rock, each temple had at its disposal a plot of land, which the monks cultivated and grew vegetables and fruits there. They ascended and descended using a complex system of nets, baskets, ropes and carts. If danger arose below, the inhabitants of the monastery cut off all contacts with the outside world - they raised ropes and nets, then no one could disturb their peace and harmony.

No matter how hard the hermits tried to protect their territory with various tricks and traps, the temples were still destroyed and devastated. To this day, only 6 of the 24 monasteries that once crowned the tops of the rocks have survived. They store priceless riches: unique frescoes, icons, medieval manuscripts and other ancient shrines. Currently operating monasteries include the monasteries of St. Nicholas Anapavsas, Varlaam, Rusanou, Great Meteor, Holy Trinity and St. Stephen.

Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas was founded at the beginning of the 14th century by the Metropolitan of Larisa, Dionysius. This is a small monastery, which is reached by a relatively convenient staircase. It has a unique design - the small area of the rock on which the monastery was built forced the monks to build cells, temples and other buildings on several levels.

On the first level of the monastery there is a small chapel of St. Anthony and a crypt in which relics and manuscripts were kept, on the second there is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, on the third there is the restored chapel of St. John the Baptist, a dining room decorated with frescoes, and a crypt for storing relics.

View from the other side:

The main church of the monastery of St. Nicholas is decorated with magnificent frescoes of the 16th century, executed by the famous Cretan icon painter Theophanes Strelidzas.

Adam names the animals:

Varlaam Monastery was founded in 1517 by the monk-priests Theophanes and Nektarios. It received its name in honor of the monk who, in 1350, was the first to settle on the top of the rock and built there a church dedicated to the Three Saints, a water tank and a cell for himself. No one else followed the example of Varlaam, and after his death this place was abandoned for a long time, until two rich brothers Theophanes and Nektarios founded a monastery there.

The frescoes decorating the main temple were painted by the famous artist Frank Catalano in 1548. The monastery also houses a valuable collection of icons, rare manuscripts, relics, carved wooden crosses, and gold-embroidered shrouds.

Currently, 7 monks live in the Varlaam monastery, who happily welcome guests and kindly conduct conversations with them.

Rusanu Monastery is a convent founded in 1545 by the brothers Maxim and Joasaph. It is located on a low rock, covers the entire surface area and consists of three levels. On the first level there are cells and a church, and the other two levels are occupied by living quarters, an exhibition and reception hall, as well as additional cells. The interior of the monastery is decorated with beautiful paintings, precious lecterns, icons and a wooden altar with gilding and carvings. The nuns who live here have a reputation for being very friendly and hospitable women, often treating their guests to candies and sweets.

Great Meteor(Preobrazhensky Monastery) is the largest and most ancient Meteora monastery, founded at the beginning of the 14th century by Saint Athanasius of Meteora. He was the first to climb this high mountain and built a church and modest cells for the monks here. His successor was St. Joseph, the Serbian king, who in 1373 renounced secular power to become a monk. During his stay in the monastery, he rebuilt the Church of the Transfiguration, built a hospital and a reservoir.

In the 16th century, the Transfiguration Monastery received a significant portion of royal and imperial donations. Then the monastery complex was rebuilt and expanded. A new kitchen, a nursing home, a tower and several chapels were built.

In 1552, the famous artist Theophanes worked on the creation of frescoes in the monastery. These frescoes represent one of the best examples of post-Byzantine monumental painting. The temple houses a rich collection of valuable icons, manuscripts and holy relics.

Monastery of the Holy Trinity is a monastery located on top of one of the most slender and picturesque rocks of Meteora. You can get to the monastery by climbing 140 steps, carved into the rock in 1925, which makes it the most ascetic and peaceful monastery, since not everyone can overcome such a difficult path.

During World War II it was badly damaged and almost all of its treasures were looted.

View of Kalambaka from the Holy Trinity Monastery:

Monastery of St. Stephen is a functioning convent that houses an important relic - the relics of St. Charalampios, which protects against illness and disease. The foundation of the monastery dates back to the 14th century, but the first hermits appeared here in the 12th century. It is located on a high cliff that overlooks the town of Kalambaka. Getting to this monastery is very easy - a stone pedestrian bridge, 8 meters long, leads to it.

Currently, the monastery refectory houses a museum in which valuable monastic relics are exhibited: Byzantine icons of the 17th-18th centuries, a paten with a chalice, as well as a manuscript of the Divine Liturgy, which was written by one of the founders of the monastery.