Spectacular monasteries on cliffs

Today few would think of building a building on top of a Cliff. However, in ancient times these places were seen as safe places, which is why some civilizations chose them for their settlements. In fact, today we can still find some beautiful villages on rocks in different parts of the world, including Spain.

Also in some places on the planet, monks of different religions chose the tops of the cliffs to build their monasteries and thus be closer to heaven. Furthermore, these places used to be isolated, surrounded by nature and had tremendously difficult access. Therefore, they were ideal places to enjoy silence and find oneself. Today in Hard Hobbit To Break We want to tell you about some of those temples located on rocks that still stand. As you can see for yourself in the images that we show you in our gallery, these are architectural feats that leave you breathless.

Meteora monasteries, Greece

As it could not be otherwise, we have to start by talking about the Meteora Monasteries, which are classified as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco since 1988. We are referring to the 22 Byzantine monasteries located on some of the natural columns of dark rock that are found in the Thessaly plain, near Kalambaka, in the Pinios river valley (Greece). They were built between the 14th and 16th centuries, and today only three can be visited. Of course, the most interesting is the Great Metéoron.

Abbey of San Martí del Canigó, France

We also want to tell you about the abbey of San Martín del Canigó, which is surprising for its location. And it is hanging in the Canigó massif, about 1094 meters high. Located in the small town of Casteil, in the Conflent region, it was founded in 1001 by the Count of Cerdagne. To get there you have to walk for about 40 minutes. Today it is occupied by the community of Beatitudes and it is declared a Historical Monument, since it preserves many testimonies of the past.

Sumela, Turkey

We continue in Europe to tell you about the Sumela monastery, a Greek Orthodox temple that is located on a cliff in the Atindere valley, in the Maçka region, in the province of Trabzon. Located 1,200 meters above sea level, it is visited every year by many tourists, especially from Russia and Greece. Of the monastery the fresh from the church, which was erected in a cave in which an icon of the Virgin Mary appeared about 1,600 years ago.

Taung Kalat, Burma

From Turkey we moved to the central area of ​​Burma to tell you about Taung Kalat, an impressive monastery located about 50 kilometers from the archaeological zone of Bagan. Like the previous ones, this temple stands out for its location: on top of the Mount Popa, the neck of an ancient volcano that does not know if it is active or not. For Buddhists it is a sacred mountain. In fact, they consider it to be the home of the so-called 37 Nats, spirits of the natural forces.

Taktsang, Bhutan

Finally, we want to tell you about Taktsang monastery, also known as Tiger's Nest. Located in the sacred valley of Paro, in Bhutan, located on a cliff at 3,120 meters above sea level, this place is a very important sacred place for Himalayan Buddhists. Also, it is important to note that it includes 7 temples. The only way to get here is on foot or on horseback.

Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan - Trekking to the SPECTACULAR Monastery on a Cliff! (Final Day in Bhutan) (April 2024)