Meteora - Wikivoyage, the free collaborative travel and tourism guide - Météores — Wikivoyage, le guide de voyage et de tourisme collaboratif gratuit

In the center of Greece and in particular in the western part of the North of the Thessaly near Kalambaka, between the northeast of Hasias and the west of the Pindus (where the Thessaly plain ends), the site of Meteors (Μετέωρα) offers a rather surreal landscape: large mountainous blocks, sculpted by erosion, some of which are surmounted by a monastery. Hence the full name in Greek, Μετέωρα Μοναστήρια, which literally means monasteries hanging in the sky.

Understand

Geologists first became interested in these rocks around 1000 years ago and came up with several theories, the prevailing one is by the German geologist Philipson, who came to Greece at the end of the 19th century. The rocks of Meteora were sedimented during the Tertiary era (60 million years ago), when the current plain was the delta of a river flowing into the Aegean Sea. With the continued action of wind, rain and other geological changes, these rocks have taken on their present form.

In the cavities, cracks and peaks of the rocks, the locals found protection against various raids from several invaders passing through the area.

Several daring hermits and anchorites sought Christian perfection in these rocks, whose calm and tranquility were conducive to meditation and prayer. At first, they lived in isolation and prayed in small chapels called "prosefhadia". Greek means “places to pray”) not only for their salvation, but also for that of all people. Their lives were simple and the work arduous; the exact date of occupation of the site is not known. According to Byzantinologists, the first hermits arrived at the end of the first millennium.

Barnabas is mentioned as the first hermit to settle in a cave in 985. He established the cloister of the Holy Spirit followed by the establishment of the cloister of the Transfiguration of Jesus by the monk Andronikos of Crete in the early 1000s AD. Later, around 1150-1160 AD the cloister of Stagi or Doupiani was established.

In 1336, the monk Athanasios, coming from Mount Athos, founded the monastery of Megalo Metéoro on one of the rocky promontories, allowing the monks to protect themselves from invasions.

The site is classified at Unesco heritage since 1988 for his 16th century frescoes^e century marking a fundamental stage in the history of post-Byzantine painting.

To go

By car

Meteora is on the E92, near Kalambaka.

By bus

To see

Only six monasteries are still in operation. It is possible to visit them. They are open from 9 h - 17 h Where 18 h; the hours are likely to vary according to the monastery, the season, and from one year to the next.

• Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicolas).
• Agios Stefanos (Saint Etienne).
• Aghia Triada (Holy Trinity)
• Great Meteor, or monastery of the Transfiguration. It is the first in size and in seniority. It is also the only one that has never stopped being busy since its creation.
• Roussanou
• Varlaam

Entrances are chargeable. Pictures are not allowed everywhere and the security service is very picky about this. The monasteries announce clothing requirements which they apply in a more or less strict way. Women are expected to wear a skirt (no pants) and have their shoulders covered. Likewise, men are required to wear pants or Bermuda shorts that go below the knee. And short sleeves are prohibited. Clothing can be rented or loaned to offenders. In practice, very short skirts for women, shorts for men and short sleeves for all are allowed.

Housing

There are campsites nearby, in the towns of Kalampaka and Kastraki.

• Doupiani House Kastraki Meteora PC 42200 (at the northern exit of Kastraki; indicated by a sign to the left of the road, in the direction of Meteora),   30 2432075326, 30 2432077555, fax : 30 2432024078, e-mail : [email protected] – free. Comfortable and well appointed rooms. This hotel overlooks the small town, offering an extraordinary panorama of the mountains and the Roussanou monastery which is one of the places to visit. The place is peaceful and clean. (last update Feb. 2016)

Around

Heading north-west, the E92 road crosses the charming village of Metsovo towards Ioannina, near the National Park of Vikos-Aoos then Igoumenitsa from where one can embark to leave Greece.