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Greece

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων

Meteora Monasteries

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Places to see

Natural Monuments

Greece

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων

Meteora Monasteries

Highlight • Religious Site

Meteora Monasteries

Name: Meteora Monasteries
Rating: 2

Recommended by 60 hikers

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Location: Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων, Greece

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Best Hikes to Meteora Monasteries

4.6

(172)

638

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

10.9km

03:19

370m

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

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Moderate

4.8

(98)

528

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2. View of the Varlaam Monastery loop from Kastraki

9.74km

03:04

370m

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

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Moderate

4.6

(50)

160

hikers

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

6.30km

02:16

360m

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

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Moderate

Tips

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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Rainer & Petra

June 23, 2024

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the ascetics began to climb higher, huge rocks with the help of winches and poles. The monks felt not only 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 complexes were supported financially and by granting privileges by pious regional rulers such as King Symeon. Over the years, a number of monasteries and hermitages were built.
Over time, the number of monasteries and hermitages rose to a total of 41. The entire complex now consists of 24 individual monasteries and hermitages, of which only six are still inhabited. The remaining eighteen monasteries are either too difficult to reach or have been abandoned due to the risk of collapse. The individual monasteries are only 1.5 to 3 km apart!

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Elevation 590 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 20 November

16°C

11°C

100 %

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Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

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Location: Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων, Greece

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada), Meteora

Katholikon of Agios Stefanos Monastery

Chapel at Meteora Cliffs

Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery and Chapel

Meteora UNESCO site

View of Varlaam Monastery

View of the Meteora Monasteries

View of Varlaam and Rousanou Monasteries

View of Meteora Monastery

Agia Trias Monastery Rock Formation

View of the Holy Monastery of Rousanou

Path Through the Meteora Rock Formations

Meteora Monasteries

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

2. View of the Varlaam Monastery loop from Kastraki

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

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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