Varlaam Monastery
Μονή Βαρλαάμ
The second-largest monastery, retaining an ancient basket-hoist tower and 16th-century frescoes. It faces Great Meteoron across the valley.
Varlaam Monastery takes its name from Varlaam, a hermit who was the first to climb this rock in the 14th century. The surviving buildings were rebuilt in 1541 by two monk brothers from Ioannina. The frescoes in the main church, the All Saints Church, are the work of a renowned 16th-century icon painter and have retained their colors well.
One of the monastery’s highlights is its basket-hoist tower, which is still in use. Monks haul supplies up with ropes and a wooden winch, and you can see the huge winch up close. The monastery also keeps an ancient wooden barrel that holds about 12,000 liters of water, along with a small museum.
It sits just across one valley from Great Meteoron, so the two can be visited together. From the road, you climb about 150 steps. Admission is about 3–5 euros. By custom it closes on Fridays (in winter it may also close on Thursdays). The dress code is the same as at the other monasteries.
Opening hours
approx. 09:00–16:00 (summer); usually closed Fri; shorter hours in winter
Nearby sights
- Monastery of Great Meteoron
- Roussanou Monastery
- Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas
- Monastery of Ypapanti
- Holy Spirit Rock (Agio Pnevma)
- Sunset Viewpoints (Psaropetra, Sunset Rock)
- Doupiani Rock & Chapel
- Kastraki Village