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Greece

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων

View of the Meteora Monasteries

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Places to see

Natural Monuments

Greece

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων

View of the Meteora Monasteries

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View of the Meteora Monasteries

Recommended by 321 hikers out of 323

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Location: Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων, Greece

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Best Hikes to View of the Meteora Monasteries

4.7

(148)

521

hikers

1. View of Varlaam Monastery – Roussanou Monastery loop from Kastraki

10.9km

03:17

360m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.6

(50)

160

hikers

2. View of the Thumb of Meteora – View of Varlaam Monastery loop from Kastraki

6.20km

02:15

360m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

4.9

(25)

100

hikers

3. Varlaam Monastery – View of Varlaam Monastery loop from Kastraki

3.87km

01:23

220m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Chrissly

June 25, 2017

Highly recommended. Attention: each of the monasteries is closed on another day of the week and can not be visited.

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Rainer & Petra

June 23, 2024

Located near the city of Kalambaka, Greece, the Meteora monasteries are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name Meteora means "to lift up." This name describes the location of the monasteries, which were built on high sandstone cliffs. When it is foggy, the monasteries on the rocks appear to float between heaven and earth. Built to last forever: the Meteora monasteries built on sandstone cliffs are called "pillars of heaven." They are the skyscrapers of medieval Greece.

There are several caves in the formations of the Meteora rocks. The Theopetra Cave is particularly worth mentioning. This cave is home to the oldest structure in the world built by humans. It is a stone wall that closes two-thirds of the entrance to the cave. It was built 23,000 years ago, probably as a barrier against cold and wind.
The first documented hermitages in Meteora date back to the 11th century. These ascetics created small prayer niches next to or within their cave dwellings.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the ascetics began to climb higher, enormous rocks with the help of winches and stakes. The monks felt not only deliberately undisturbed in the Meteora monasteries, but also safer from looters and raids because the monasteries could only be entered via ladders and ropes.

From the 14th century onwards, the monks built 19 monasteries, and the facilities were supported financially and through the granting of privileges by pious regional rulers such as King Symeon. Over the years, numerous monasteries and hermitages were established.

Over time, the number of monasteries and hermitages rose to a total of 41.

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Tibor🥾🌿☀️

October 7, 2025

East of the Pindus Mountains, mighty sandstone cliffs rise to a height of approximately 500 meters. 24 monasteries were once built on their summits. Monks and nuns still live in six of them today. These monasteries are now UNESCO World Heritage sites and are often referred to as "floating monasteries" because they appear almost suspended in fog or low clouds.

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Elevation 530 m

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Today

Saturday 8 November

15°C

11°C

70 %

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Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Location: Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων, Greece

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View of the Meteora Monasteries

1. View of Varlaam Monastery – Roussanou Monastery loop from Kastraki

2. View of the Thumb of Meteora – View of Varlaam Monastery loop from Kastraki

3. Varlaam Monastery – View of Varlaam Monastery loop from Kastraki

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