Meterora Kalambaka

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Not far from the city of Kalambaka, in the heart of the plain of Thessaly, rise the Meteora, impressive rocky peaks on which were built 24 orthodox monasteries, from the 14th century. All have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and six of them are still in operation.

This superb geological curiosity, which dominates the plain up to 600 m of altitude, is the second monastic complex of Greece, after Mount Athos. It is not only a tourist site: there are still six monasteries in activity, dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

The Meteora (in Greek "Meteora", suspended in the sky) were inhabited as of the eleventh century. The monks lived in natural cavities, on the flanks of the rocky walls, of which there remain today some vestiges. Only three centuries later began the construction of the monasteries.

To access the Meteors, you do not have to be a mountaineer, even if rock climbers do not hesitate to attack the walls that dominate the village of Kastraki. On the other hand, you have to walk. So, plan for good shoes, and be sure to respect the dress rules of the place. To go around the Meteora without hurrying, plan 6 hours. Pay entry for each of the monasteries.

Besides the monasteries, the region of Meteora also offers beautiful walks, if you linger in the corner.

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The biggest

Founded in 1388, the Great Meteorite is both the largest and the oldest monastery in operation. On the walls of the Church of the Transfiguration, frescoes from the Cretan school dating from the 16th century are admired. And in the different rooms of the museums, costumes, weapons, ancient manuscripts, liturgical scrolls, icons and cult objects are on display.

The most charming

The monastery of Agios Nikolaos Anapavsas is one of the smallest, but also one of the prettiest. In his church, which has an almost square nave, one can see remarkable frescoes representing the Last Judgment.

The most cinematic

In 1980, the monastery of Agia Triada served as a backdrop for the filming of James Bond film Just for your eyes. It must be said that the places are rather cinégéniques. Until 1925, this eagle's nest could only be accessed by a rope ladder. You must not be dizzy! Today, it is by climbing the approximately 140 steps of a circular staircase that we reach the top, from where the view of Kalambaka is impregnable