Meteora, the masterpiece of nature

Also available in: Ελληνικά

Meteora is one of the most impressive and unique geological monuments not only in Greece but also in the world, as apart from the peculiarity and beauty of the wider Meteora region, the second largest and most important monastic community in the Orthodox Greek area is located there. That is why they have been called the second Mount Athos, which has been preserving its religious and monastic tradition for centuries.

• See all the photos from Meteora
• Accommodation in Meteora
• Map of the Meteora region
• Access to Meteora

Meteora, the place that takes your breath away

What impresses the visitor of Meteora is of course the huge dark-coloured rocks that rise from the plain just above the small town of Kalambaka and the picturesque Kastraki , while it is strange that this special place of Meteora has not been mentioned by any ancient historian or in Greek Mythology.

The spectacle, however, whether you are under the rocks in the city of Kalambaka or on top of them is literally breathtaking. The peaks of some of them exceed 400 meters above the plain, so that everything seems tiny, like when you are behind the window of an airplane.

Meteora has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1988 (see description from the official UNESCO site ).

The geological phenomenon of Meteora

The unique phenomenon of Meteora is the result of geological changes and turbulence on the Earth’s surface over millions of years. According to the prevailing scientific version, Meteora was the mouth of a river that flowed in the present-day area of Thessaly, which was covered by the sea.

The present rocks were part of the deposits of sediment from the river at its mouth. 60 million years ago for some, or 25 to 30 million years for others, some large-scale geological changes began that uplifted a large part of central Greece, submerging a large part of Thessaly that became a lake.

During the Tertiary period, large earthquakes caused further changes in the landscape of Greece, creating the opening of the Tempi through which, according to the prevailing theory, the waters of Thessaly were poured into the Aegean Sea, bringing to the surface visible rocks that, with the passage of time and the enormous influence of nature, such as earthquakes, water, wind and various climatic changes, formed the spectacle we enjoy today.

Monasteries and monasteries in Meteora

The Great Meteor and the Monastery of Varlaam

Meteora got its name from Hosios Athanasios the Meteorite, the founder of the first monastery in Meteora, the monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour or otherwise known as the Great Meteora. Hosios Athanasios the Meteorite climbed up the rock with the then name “Platy Lithos” in 1,344, which he renamed Meteoros. (more information about the first and largest monastery of Meteora in the article Holy Monastery of Great Meteor in Meteora)

Of the 30 monasteries founded in Meteora , only six are in operation today, but they have been restored and most of their frescoes are well preserved. They are open most days of the week and receive hundreds of visitors every day.

The second largest monastery after Megalo Meteoro is the Monastery of Varlaam (Saints of All) and owes its name to the monk Varlaam who climbed the rock in 1350 and built there a small temple of the Three Hierarchs and some cells. It is located directly opposite the Great Meteor and has a wonderful view as well as some places worth visiting such as the old galley (hearth) and the hospital.

Monastery of St. Nicholas (Anapaussa)

If coming from Trikala you pass to climb Meteora through Kalambaka and Kastraki, then the first monastery you will meet on your left is that of Agios Nikolaos of Asmenos or Anapaussa. The second floor of the monastery is famous for the excellent paintings of 1,527 by the great Cretan icon painter Theophanes Strelitzas, who later also created the decoration of some of the monasteries of Mount Athos! The monastery, which was seriously endangered by the passage of time, was renovated in 1960.

Monastery of Rusanos

The next monastery you will meet is that of Roussanou Monastery. At the beginning you will see it hanging impressively above your road on the right, while later on and as you climb it is worth stopping at some point on the road in order to enjoy how atonal it blends with the impressive landscape of Meteora.

Until 1936 the ascent to the monastery was only possible with a wind ladder or a net, something that changed with the construction of two small bridges. However, with binoculars or a large camera lens you can still see the wind scales hanging today!

Monastery of Saint Stephen

The Monastery of Agios Stefanos is built on the southernmost rock of Meteora and has been a nunnery since 1961. The current katholikon of the monastery was built in 1798 in memory of St. Charalambos whose cart is kept as a holy and miraculous relic by the nuns of the monastery.

Monastery of Agia Triada

Finally, the monastery of Agia Triada was founded by the monk Dometios in 1438 and is considered the third oldest monastery of Meteora. It is located on a rock from which you have a stunning view of Kalambaka directly below you and of the rocky and amazing landscape of Meteora on your right. If you even look carefully you will see the monasteries of Megalo Meteoro and Varlaam in the background.

When we visited the Monastery of Agia Triada, some repair work was being carried out and so we had the opportunity to see the small cable car with the building materials coming and going several times, giving us the opportunity to get a taste of how the transport of not only materials but also people was carried out.

However, since 1925 a staircase has been carved into the rock with 140 steps, in some places narrow and with a steep slope, which facilitate the ascent to the rock of the Holy Trinity.

Climbing in Meteora

The unique place of Meteora , apart from its huge geological and religious interest, is a favourite destination for climbing. Many people call Meteora the climbing paradise in Greece as there are more than 200 rocks and more than 700 routes with altitude difference from 30 to 450 meters!

In the beginning it is believed that the first climbing attempts were made purely for safety reasons and protection from the various raids that took place in the area. Subsequently, from about the 10th century AD, the efforts of ascetics and monks began to climb the rocks of Meteora in order to have absolute silence and isolation from the rest of the environment.

The building of the first small temples and cells and the need to bring up the materials needed for them led to the construction of windmills, nets and special stairs whose support beams were inserted in holes made by the monks in the rocks.

And this is how we arrived in the 20th century and the first organized attempt to climb and record the climbing routes that existed in Meteora by the Germans Dietrich Hasse and his friend and climber and photographer Heinz Stutte , who every year from 1975 onwards visited Meteora together with other German friends. These efforts even led to the publication by Hasse and Stutte of a comprehensive guidebook to climbing in Meteora.

Accommodation in Meteora (Kalambaka-Kastraki)

Meteora is one of the most important tourist destinations in Greece. Both the geological value and their unique landscape, the religious value and the number of Byzantine monasteries and relics of all kinds, as well as the climbing options they offer, make them a popular destination for people of all ages and tastes.

You can see the best accommodation offers for Kalambaka. In addition, you can see even more hotels in Kalaklava. the wider area of Meteora .

text/photos: Yannis Tsouratzis

Photos from Meteora and the monasteries

I took all the photos from sunrise to almost sunset. Since it was early November and I didn’t have the duration of summer light, I was literally running from sunrise to catch as many shots as I could in one day. I also stopped several times in the car moving from one monastery to another (always with caution).

For food, something on the leg. Otherwise, there are so many monasteries and so many places of photographic/travel interest in Meteora that I wouldn’t have had time to take half of them in a day.

Map of Meteora with the locations of the monasteries that can be visited

Kalabaka 42200, Greece

Kalabaka 42200, Greece

Kalabaka 42200, Greece

Kalabaka 42200, Greece

Kalabaka 42200, Greece

Kalabaka 42200, Greece

Kalabaka 42200, Greece