Places near me Random place
All Turkey Akarsu Köyü Sumela Monastery
AO Edited

Sumela Monastery

A Turkish monastery tucked into a cliff wall.

Akarsu Köyü, Turkey

Added By
Dylan Thuras
Last step to the monastery   lpridatko (Atlas Obscura User)
Sumela Monastery   philoursmars
Sumela Monastery   philoursmars
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Founded in 386 AD, the Sumela Monastery or the "Virgin Mary" as it is popularly known, is a large complex situated in a cliff 1200 meters above the surrounding Turkish forest. Ruined and repaired numerous times over its 1800 years, the monastery, despite being an Athenian Christian order, was protected by the Ottoman emperor Mehmed II and his successors. Today the monastery is little used by monks, but is a popular attraction and is undergoing restoration by the Turkish government.

Related Tags

Intriguing Environs Architectural Oddities Sacred Spaces Outsider Architecture Architecture Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

The monastery was closed for renovation in 2015 and was reopened in May 2019. The site had half a million visitors in 2019, so it is essential to avoid the main season and weekends. It is open all year daily, the fee is TRL 10.

Community Contributors

Added By

Dylan

Edited By

philoursmars, mischchief, seopak, Jochen Duckeck...

Published

April 16, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Turkey

Turkey

Middle East

Places 120
Stories 20

Related Places

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads

Become a Member