Debre Libanos Monastery
ደብረ ሊባኖስ
This monastery, founded in the 13th century by Saint Tekle Haymanot, sits on the edge of the Jemma River gorge and is one of Ethiopia's most sacred pilgrimage sites.
The monastery lies about 100 kilometers north of the capital, roughly a two-hour drive. Its surviving church was rebuilt by Haile Selassie in 1961 and is decorated with stained glass and mosaics. In 1937, Italian occupation forces massacred several hundred monks and pilgrims here. The monastery sits against a cliff, and a footpath climbs to hermit caves. Gelada baboons are often seen in the surrounding gorge. It is commonly combined with the nearby Portuguese Bridge as a day trip.
Opening hours
Open daytime
Nearby sights
- Portuguese Bridge (Debre Libanos)
- Entoto Maryam Church
- Mount Entoto & Entoto Park
- Shiro Meda Market
- Ethnological Museum (Institute of Ethiopian Studies)
- Yekatit 12 Monument
- National Museum of Ethiopia
- St. George's Cathedral