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Top 9 most famous mountain monasteries

For centuries, monks and nuns have chosen to withdraw from society to live lives of solitude, self-awareness and piety. This prompted them to build monasteries in some of the most isolated locations. Next, we will introduce to you 10 mountain monasteries famous for their breathtaking beauty and unique, beautiful appearance.

1. Mont-Saint-Michel Monastery - France

Mont-Saint-Michel is a Gothic-style abbey dedicated to the archangel Michael. It is located on a granite mountain surrounded by quicksand in the territory of the French commune Le Mont-Saint-Michel, in the Normand region; between vast coastlines subject to the rise and fall of the highest tides on the European continent. Resplendent with tall, slender carved arches and illuminating stained glass windows. The construction of this monastery took place from the 11th to the 16th century, adapted to a difficult natural site, and is considered a technical and artistic achievement. This is not only a remarkable example of medieval architecture but also an amazing feat. The Mont-Saint-Michel abbey was formerly known as a Benedictine abbey, with its design reflecting the Romanesque style. It developed strongly, becoming a center of religious and cultural activities. A large number of pilgrims - including kings from France and England - visited the monastery over the centuries. Mont-Saint-Michel gradually became an important pilgrimage place for Christians from the 8th to the 18th century. Currently, the management of the monastery is entrusted to the Jerusalem monks. The mountain and its bay were twice on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This has helped Mont-Saint-Michel attract 2.5 million tourists each year, while also becoming one of the top cultural sites visited in France. Despite the mountain's tumultuous history and the destruction of its front, the integrity of the entire area and the monastery has survived to this day. Restorations in the 19th century restored its dignity and iconic appearance, especially through the construction of the tower in 1897. The values ​​remained despite the silt of the The bay due to natural phenomena and the leveeing of the road in 1879, caused the mountain to lose its island character. After large-scale works carried out by the French state, the maritime character of Mont-Saint-Michel was restored in 2015.
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2. Meteora Monastery - Greece

The monasteries at Meteora are said to have been founded before the mid-14th century by a monk from Mount Athos - Saint Athanasios the Meteorite. Meteora is a rock formation in the Trikala-Greece area. It has one of the largest bluffs on which Eastern Orthodox monastic complexes were built. Of the original 24 monasteries, 6 monasteries are still active today. They are built on vast natural pillars, with rounded hill-like rocks dominating the local area. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, monasteries were founded; Meteora's location is near the town of Kalabaka, at the northwestern edge of the Thessaly plain near the Pineios River and the Pindus Mountains. Today's six monasteries create a truly awe-inspiring scene, with stunning rock formations and ancient ruins. In essence, Meteora has now become an ark that preserves the 2,000-year-old Orthodox faith. Two of the six monasteries, Agios Stefanos and Roussanou, are monasteries with nuns; The remaining 4 monasteries are monasteries for male monks. Although Meteora is not mentioned in classical Greek mythology nor in ancient Greek literature. But the first people recorded to live here after the Stone Age were a group of ascetic monks. In the 9th century AD, they moved to the highlands, living in the hollows and cracks of stone towers; Some places are even up to 550m above the plain. Initially, hermits lived a solitary life, they only met on Sundays or special days to pray and worship together in a chapel built at the foot of a rock called Dupiani. As early as the 11th century, these monks occupied the caves of Meteora. However, monasteries were only built in the 14th century, when they sought refuge from Turkish attacks on Greece in increasing numbers. At this time, travel to the top of the mountain was done using ladders or removable windshields. Today, it is much simpler due to the stairs carved into the rock in the 1920s. In 1988, Meteora was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list for its architecture and outstanding beauty. its complexity, besides its religious and artistic significance.
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3. Cassino Monte Monastery - Italy

The monasteries at Meteora are said to have been founded before the mid-14th century by a monk from Mount Athos - Saint Athanasios the Meteorite. Meteora is a rock formation in the Trikala-Greece area. It has one of the largest bluffs on which Eastern Orthodox monastic complexes were built. Of the original 24 monasteries, 6 monasteries are still active today. They are built on vast natural pillars, with rounded hill-like rocks dominating the local area. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, monasteries were founded; Meteora's location is near the town of Kalabaka, at the northwestern edge of the Thessaly plain near the Pineios River and the Pindus Mountains. Today's six monasteries create a truly awe-inspiring scene, with stunning rock formations and ancient ruins. In essence, Meteora has now become an ark that preserves the 2,000-year-old Orthodox faith. Two of the six monasteries, Agios Stefanos and Roussanou, are monasteries with nuns; The remaining 4 monasteries are monasteries for male monks. Although Meteora is not mentioned in classical Greek mythology nor in ancient Greek literature. But the first people recorded to live here after the Stone Age were a group of ascetic monks. In the 9th century AD, they moved to the highlands, living in the hollows and cracks of stone towers; Some places are even up to 550m above the plain. Initially, hermits lived a solitary life, they only met on Sundays or special days to pray and worship together in a chapel built at the foot of a rock called Dupiani. As early as the 11th century, these monks occupied the caves of Meteora. However, monasteries were only built in the 14th century, when they sought refuge from Turkish attacks on Greece in increasing numbers. At this time, travel to the top of the mountain was done using ladders or removable windshields. Today, it is much simpler due to the stairs carved into the rock in the 1920s. In 1988, Meteora was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list for its architecture and outstanding beauty. its complexity, besides its religious and artistic significance.
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4. Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat - Spain

Santa Maria de Montserrat is a monastery of Saint Benedict located on Montserrat mountain, 48km northwest of Barcelona, ​​Spain. It was founded in the 11th century and rebuilt between the 19th and 20th centuries, still operating today with more than 70 monks. This is the most important religious retreat for groups of young people from Barcelona as well as throughout Catalonia, who often go on overnight hikes to watch the sunrise from the top of the mountain. The Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery is the work of architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. This place consists of two floors supported by stone pillars. The lower floor is connected to the garden and has a fountain in the central area. On the walls one can see ancient works, some of which belong to the 10th century. The large garden includes two chapels, Sant Iscle and Santa Victoria, of Romanesque style. Legend says that the famous statue of the Virgin of Montserrat was found as far back as 880. Then, cults began to be practiced in four former monasteries in the 9th century: Santa Maria, Sant Iscle, Sant Pere and Sant Marti. Around the year 1011, a monk named Oliba from the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll was assigned to the mountain to take charge of the monastery of Santa Cecilia de Montserrat. Because he did not accept this new situation, Oliba decided to found a new monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat, in 1025, on the site of an old hermitage of the same name. This became the most important refuge among those that existed on the mountain thanks to the statue of the Virgin that was venerated there. In 1811-1812, during Napoleon's invasion of Spain, this monastery was twice burned and looted by the army, and many treasures were lost. In 1835, it was closed until restored in 1844. In 1880, Montserrat celebrated 1000 years of existence. And on September 11, 1881, Pope Leo XIII officially declared the Virgin of Montserrat the patron saint of Catalonia. From the 1940s onwards, the convent of Santa Maria de Montserrat was often seen as a symbol of nationalism. On April 27, 1947, a Mass was held to commemorate the Coronation of the Virgin of Montserrat, attended by more than 100,000 people. Besides, among other activities, this monastery has played a notable role in actively providing shelter to intellectuals and underground political activists of various stripes. .
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5. Tatev Monastery - Armenia

Tatev Monastery is located in southeastern Armenia, on the edge of a deep gorge of the Vorotan River in the ancient Armenian region of Syunik. The Tatev plateau has been in use since pre-Christian times, where there was a pagan temple. This temple was replaced by a modest church after the Christianization of Armenia in the 4th century. The development of the Tatev monastery began in the 9th century when it became the seat of the Bishop of Syunik , and played an important role in the region's history as a center of economic, political, spiritual, and cultural activity. Tatev is described as one of the two most famous monasteries here, along with Noravank in Vayots Dzor province. By the early 11th century, Tatev monastery welcomed about 1,000 monks and a large number of artisans. During the Seljuk invasion of the 12th century and the earthquake of 1136, it suffered significant damage. In 1170, the Seljuk Turks plundered the monastery and burned about 10,000 manuscripts. It was rebuilt through the efforts of Bishop Stepanos near the end of the 13th century. And with the founding of the university in the 14th century, Tatev became the main center of Armenian culture. During the campaigns of 1381–1387, the monastery was looted and burned, and a significant portion of its territory was stripped of it. Following this, it received another blow during Shah Rukh's invasion in 1434. Tatev was reborn in the 17th and 18th centuries; Its structure begins to recover; Besides, new structures are also added. However, the monastery continued to be seriously damaged after the 1931 earthquake, the dome and bell tower were also destroyed. In the years that followed, although it was rebuilt, the bell tower remains intact to this day. In addition to the surrounding buildings, Tatev monastery also boasts a vertical pillar, called Gavazan. This column was built in the 10th century after the completion of the Paul and Peter church, and it has survived many invasions as well as earthquakes. In the 18th century, people added the Bishop's residence, rooms for monks, warehouses, dining rooms, kitchens, bakeries and wineries; 16 rectangular classrooms with vaulted ceilings are built along the main sides. The school buildings of the Tatev monastery are typical of the architectural style of monastic education used in the late medieval period. In 1995, the Tatev and Tatevi Anapat monasteries and the surrounding areas of the Vorotan valley were added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites for science and culture.
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6. Ostrog Monastery - Montenegro

Ostrog is a monastery of the Serbian Orthodox church located on a high, almost vertical foundation on the large rock of Ostroska Greda, in Montenegro. This is a magical work built by combination with nature and human interaction. It is carved almost entirely into a cliff. Today, this area is considered the pearl of spiritualism in Montenegro. After the "tomb of Jesus" and the "Holy Mountain", Ostrog Monastery is the third most visited Holy Land for Christians in the world. More than 100,000 pilgrims from all over of all religions visit it every year. Ostrog was founded to dedicate itself to Saint Basil - who is buried here. Ostrog Monastery is located at an altitude of 900m above sea level. At the exit on the right side there is a fountain of Holy Water, which is said to have some healing properties. Donji Manastir lower monastery is 3km from the main campus, centered around the Holy Trinity church with vivid frescoes - built in 1824. Between the upper monastery and lower monastery is the Church of the Holy Son. Stanko Temple - built in 2003, which also preserves the hands of this Saint. Over the centuries in the Ostrog region, in the incredible natural landscape of Montenegro, the country has been shaped by times of peace as well as times of hope for freedom. Poets, writers, politicians and other ordinary people have come here to admire this unique, mysterious area. Besides, Upper Ostrog is the most impressive part of the monastery, it has a bell tower as tall as a five-story building, making an impressive impression in the majestic cave palace. Traditionally, pilgrims walk the 3km from the lower monastery to the upper monastery barefoot. Before entering the church to pray before Saint Basil. They will also donate clothes, blankets or consumer goods such as soap to the monks. This place will hold a ceremony on May 12 every year; because Saint Basil died on April 29 according to the Orthodox calendar - equivalent to May 12 according to the Western calendar.
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7. Sumela Monastery - Türkiye

Sumela is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to Mary located in Karadag, in the Pontic Mountains, in the Macka district of present-day Trabzon Province-Türkiye. Sumela is a word that comes from the Greek word “Sou Melá” - meaning "Black Mountain". Nestled in a steep cliff at an altitude of about 1,200m facing the Altindere valley - this is a site of great historical and cultural significance. Due to the increasing number of falling rocks, on September 22, 2015, Sumela Monastery was closed for a period of one year to the public for safety reasons to resolve the problem. But in the end this incident lasted for more than three years, until it reopened on May 25, 2019. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has determined the date of Sumela's formation. was around 386 AD, during the reign of emperor Theodosius I. According to legend, the founders of the monastery were two Athenian monks named Barnabas and Sophronios. It became famous thanks to an icon depicting the Theotokos (Mother of God) called Panagia Gorgoepekoos - said to have been painted by the apostle Luke. Throughout its long history, Sumela was repeatedly ruined and destroyed. However, it was restored by different emperors. After the conquest of Ottoman Mehmed II in 1461, the Sumela monastery was protected and given special privileges by the sultan. It remained a popular destination for monks and tourists for many years. In 1682 and in the following decades, it became the seat of the Phrontisterion of Trapezous - a famous Greek educational institution. The main parts of the Sumela monastic complex include: the Stone Church, chapels, kitchen, student rooms, guest house, library, and a sacred stream revered by Eastern Orthodox Christians. The large aqueduct, which supplies water to the monastery, is built against a cliff with many domes, most of which have been restored. The entrance leads up a long, narrow staircase, from there into the courtyard. On the left, in front of a cave, there are several monastic buildings. This cave was converted into a church, and also became the center of the monastery. The largest building with a balcony in front of the cliff was used as the monks' rooms and as accommodation for guests. During the 2015-2017 restoration, a secret tunnel was discovered leading to what is believed to be a Catholic chapel. In addition, invisible frescoes were also discovered depicting images between heaven and hell, between life and the afterlife.
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8. Sagra di San Michele Monastery - Italy

Located on a majestic ground at an altitude of 960m above sea level, in northern Italy; The Sagra di San Michele monastery was built on top of Mount Pirchiriano. It is famous thanks to writer Umberto Eco - who chose this place as the setting for his award-winning mystery novel The Name of the Rose (1980). Local legend has it that this monastery was built by Saint John Vincent, to honor Michael - the archangel who defeated the evil Lucifer. According to the first written evidence about the monastery written by a monk named William: it was built at the end of the 10th century, the Byzantine influence is shown in the columns and domes of the crypt. The Romanesque facade, towering above the valley, leads to a steep staircase known as the “stair of the dead,” topped by an imposing 12th-century marble gateway called "the door of the zodiac". In addition, there is a nave and two aisles, with elements of both Gothic and Romanesque architecture. During the 11th century, the monastery's structure was then entrusted to the Benedictine monks - who were able to gradually develop its spiritual significance. They provided asylum for pilgrims as well as protection for the people in the area. At this time, the place was expanded with the monks incorporating a small monastery and a number of guest rooms for pilgrims to enter. Until the 15th century, it experienced its greatest historical splendor - becoming one of the main centers of Benedictine spirituality in Italy. In the 19th century, the congregation of Rosminian priests was also founded there. In 2016, the museum of the monumental monastic complex was visited by more than 100,000 people. However, on the night of January 24, 2018, the Sagra di San Michele monastery was severely damaged after a fire broke out on the roof. Although the most important architectural part was not affected, it had to undergo a major restoration to be perfect again.
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9. Jvari Monastery - Republic of Georgia

Built on top of a rocky hill at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers in Georgia, Eastern Europe. Jvari is a 6th-century Georgian Orthodox monastery and one of the finest examples of the country's rare early medieval architecture that has survived to this day. almost unchanged. Besides, it is also a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. According to local legend, this is where Saint Nino - a female missionary from the 4th century - built a large wooden cross on the previous pagan temple. It is said that this cross can perform miracles; and thus it attracts pilgrims from all over the Caucasus. Although there are no historical documents that can prove the authenticity of the story, what is certain is that the current monastery dates back to around 590 - 605 when King Erismtavari Stepanoz I ruled. Jvari clearly shows that it is about the harmonious combination of architecture and nature. The monastery looks like it grew from a mountain; The western facade is reinforced by an opposing wall, almost hanging over the cliff. There are two entrances, from the north and south. The whole court is cross-shaped, extending from east to west, each branch ending with semicircular domes. This is also a classic example of "four-roof architecture" - a technique also known as "tetraconch" that has become a characteristic feature of Georgian architecture, inspiring the style of many houses. temple as well as other monasteries on this land. Diverse sculptures influenced by Greek and Sassanian styles decorate the facade of the monastery on the south side with a bas-relief of Ton Vinh Thanh Price, the northern side is surrounded by a small church built earlier and can be seen from afar, the western facade is undecorated. The monastery complex is surrounded by ruins of existing walls tower, with a gated entrance from the east. There is much debate about the construction of this monastery, as it has nationalist overtones in both Georgia and Armenia. Each country claims to have invented the style Jvari's "four-roof architecture with four niches" is currently increasingly threatened by erosion from acid rain and strong winds.
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