Today few would think of building a building on top of a cliff . However, in the past these places were seen as safe places, so 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. In addition, these places used to be isolated, surrounded by nature and had a tremendously difficult access. Therefore, they were ideal places to enjoy the silence and find yourself. Today at Vuela Viajes we want to tell you about some of those temples located on rocks that are still standing. As you can see for yourself in the images that we show you in our gallery, these are architectural feats that take your breath away.
Meteora monasteries, Greece
How could it be otherwise, we have to start by talking about the Meteora Monasteries, which have been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1988. We are referring to the 22 Byzantine monasteries located on some of the natural columns of dark rock found in the plain of Thessaly, in the vicinity of Kalambaka, in the valley of the river Pinios (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 MartĂ del CanigĂł, France
We also want to tell you about the Abbey of San MartĂn del CanigĂł, which is surprising due to its location. And it is that it is hanging in the middle of the CanigĂł massif, at about 1094 meters high. Located in the small town of Casteil, in the Conflent region, it was founded in 1001 by the Count of Cerdaña. To get there you have to walk up for about 40 minutes. Today it is occupied by the community of the Beatitudes and is declared a Historical Monument, since it preserves many testimonies to 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 at 1,200 meters above sea level, it receives the visit of many tourists every year, especially from Russia and Greece. Of the monastery, the frescoes of the church stand out, which was erected in a cave in which an icon of the Virgin Mary appeared some 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 site of Bagan. Like the previous ones, this temple stands out for its location: on top of Mount Popa , the neck of an ancient volcano that is not known if it is active or not. For Buddhists it is a sacred mountain. In fact, they consider it to be the abode of the so-called 37 Nats, spirits of natural forces.
Taktsang, Bhutan
Finally, we want to tell you about Taktsang monastery, also known as Tiger’s Nest . It is 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.