In the 2nd century BC The first attempts to climb the rocks of Meteora were for emergency as some have to hide the local residents to protect themselves from raids by robbers. The 11th was one of the practitioners who wanted to isolate and get as close to heaven and God. Nowadays, thousands of climbers from around the world come to Meteora
test their resistance to more than 700 routes!


It all started in 1975 by two German climbers, and the Dietrich Iasse Ieinz Stutte (which, although 63 years is not impossible to meet in a path to his favorite rocks of Meteora). Experts and pioneers in their field, began to "open" routes and collect data on the morphology of rocks, flora and fauna, climatic conditions and the difficulty of routes. In 1977 he published the first climbing guide of Meteora and slowly began to flock to foreign climbers in the area. The presence of curious local kids making their first tentative steps in climbing.

Initially without the necessary equipment, ropes, clothing, shoes and special-excess but with courage and an ability to say inscribed in the DNA, followed by German pioneers in the same period and the few Greek climbers begin to learn about this new amazing destination. The "virus" is spreading quickly in the early 1990's the area of ​​youth sets new standards by opening some of the toughest and most famous tracks of Meteora. Students at the tender age of 16 are dedicated to climbing the days when the weather is nice the classrooms strangely empty.

The ... sacrifices bear fruit: more than 700 routes of all grades of difficulty is the result of 30-something years frenzied climbing at Meteora, where they originate some of the best Greek climbers.

ROUTES
The rocks are sandstone with pebbles that create natural "grips" and make it an ideal choice for beginners. If you fall into this category choose the paths that have opened in the back of rock Ntoupianis, many of which do not exceed the fourth degree of difficulty.

Meteora will enjoy the experience of traditional climbing: long routes without unnecessary insurance.

All routes have been opened by traditional bottom-up, something that seems almost unreal when you consider that some of them are standing at a height of almost half a kilometer! Toughest of all the "Orchid" (1997) and «Crazy Dance» (1995-97), with VIII and IX + + degrees of difficulty, respectively! Among the famous include Action Direct (VIII + 240 m), Pilie of Dreams (V +, 250 m), Nightmare (VIII, 145 m.), and stages of the Consortium (VII + 320 m).

SOURCE: "THE NEWS"

Info
The Meteora 364 km away from Athens and 255 from Thessaloniki.

Better times:
All seasons are suitable for climbing, but the rain is a prohibitive factor. Also, it is advisable to avoid very hot summer days.

Trekking Hellas: Climbing in Meteora
Individual activity with a sense of freedom and the adrenaline aftopepoithisis.Ziste paradise of climbers, Meteora. In rock climbing there Ntoupianis 5 secured routes for beginners, fifth and sixth grade difficulty. Professional climbers of Trekking Hellas will deliver a short lesson on the technique of climbing and then the action xekina.I views will benefit from the top of the rock is unique. In each train-climber secures certified climber making your way completely harmless.

Apart from the 6 monasteries worth to follow these trails to admire the Meteora around the glory!

Moni Ypapantis1. Founded in the 14th century and abandoned in 1809 when he was arrested here by the local revolutionary hero Papathymios Vlahavas by soldiers of Ali Pasha, who destroyed the monastery. It belongs to the Monastery of the Great Meteoro. Founders of the monastery is the monk Nilus in the year 1367 AD and the monk Cyprian. Today it is renovated but closed.
• Monastery of St. Nicholas Bantova2. Located southeast of Kastraki. Founded in the 14th century and was bombed in 1943 by the Germans. Last restored the cells and the temple of the monastery.
• Church Life-Giving Spring (Doupiani) 3. This is a small one-roomed royal, with two visible phases. Of the 12th century and 1861. None other than the Doupiani hermitage, founded by the monk Nile. Centered on the Temple cult of the Virgin Mary, was the "Lord" of the cloister. The church is located just below the Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas.
• Monastery of St. Pnefmatos4. Considered the oldest monastery in Meteora. Probably this is the''Stylo Stagi''where they stayed for a while Athanasius Meteorite with the elder Gregory. It currently consists of a small temple carved into the rock and some dilapidated cells.

Worth Seeing
• The rock of the Holy Spirit. With an altitude of 300 meters, dominating the Kastraki. The view from the top, where the bell and cross, will reward you for 1 hour hiking and something you need to get there. Up here there was until 1975 a metal cross, who moved to the monastery with the help of Barlaam helicopter, which is said to have put the Serbian Emperor Stefan Dusan.
• In St. George the Mantila5. The rock of the Holy Spirit, about 30 feet from the ground, our attention drawn by a cavity in the rock placed colorful fabrics. According to legend, in Turkish, a Turkish woman begged the saint to cure her husband who injured his hand. So He took the scarf and tied the wounded hand of her husband. When she recovered her husband took the scarf he had tied the wounded hand and dedicated to St. George. Since then, every year, Saint George, residents of the area raise fabric offerings and take the old, which cut and make charms.
• The Adrachti6. One of the most characteristic rocks of Meteora, a very distinctive shape. It looks really spindle or pin if you like and seems poised dangerously over the centuries.

Hiking trails
1. AS TON AGIO GEORGIO
O hiker reaches the "square" surrounded by "skyscrapers" rocks-Marble, Pixari, Bantova and hold-xestratizontas the road linking Kalambaka Kastraki and taking the cemented road that goes to the Old Kastraki. From this road begins the path towards the "square" between the rocks hold and Marble. There is the chapel of the Virgin and the renovated chapel of Agios Nikolaos Bantova through the namesake rock. Next, the almost vertical side of the rock, there are wooden hermitages, with ladders hanging in space. Down among the rocks Pixari & Marble, crosses the trail, which meanders from the lower church of St. Nicholas and passes through the central square with the nests of storks in Kastraki. From there, hikers follow the road on the left side of the school, which pulls in St. George scarf.


2. The AS MONASTIRI of AGIOY NIKOLAOY
Keeping the "contact" with the rock of the Holy Spirit, the traveler reaches the rear side of monks in prison. See them from afar. If he wants to get closer, we must "confront" the stream Palaiokranies and Logos. So, back to the path of scarf and follow until you reach across from the monastery of St. Nicholas of rest and leave the asphalt. Across the street are starting the stairs leading to the monastery. The monastery of Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas resembles a natural component of rock and are an eye catcher and externally and internally. Why Catholic, except the honored saint thafmatourgise and the hand of the leading painter of the Cretan School, the famous Theophanes, who He painted in 1527 the church. One can admire his works for hours. Today the monastery lives a monk.

3. AS OF THE MONI METAMORFOSEOS
O main road, which comes from Kastraki climbs in the monastery Rousanou. O wayfarer, however, can be left astray, before the bridge, to walk on one of the oldest trails, which in many places still retain the original paving. The trail, paved fallen leaves, heading toward the passage between the cliffs higher and Barlaam. While sanctified place, tradition insists he sees monsters and items. Thus, the base of the rock at the top of the monastery of Barlaam is the piercing Drakospilia. From now on keep more pieces of the old cobbled up the first of the 146 stairs of the Great Meteoro. At the top there's over 600 years the Monastery of the Transfiguration, a whole big museum.

4. The VRACHO AS OF DOYPIANIS
Visitation Monastery was renovated recently and has no monks is unknown monasteries of Meteora. Built and decorated in 1366 and kept unchanged since then. And it seems to remain so in the future. Fortune had most of the monasteries of Meteora, which were in their prime 24. Before the dirt coming from the temple you come across a paved road that goes to Kastraki and after the "Stone of Horseradish", right on the rock of Doupiani still look the ruins of the Monastery of the Pantocrator. But after the Anapafsas stand on top of an inaccessible cliff trails of New Abbey. The rock of Doupiani is unreachable for many, but not practiced for climbers, who patiently climbing up the top, continuing an old tradition that exists here in Meteora. tip! To complete this itinerary, the traveler should calculate around 5 hours walking. The path can be modified and instead of the convent of the Visitation Monastery to include Barlaam and then descend from Arsaniotikes plates. Another interesting path to path, lasting one hour, beginning at the edge of Kalambaka and ends at the monastery of Agia Triada.

Our starting point is the main square of Kalambaka with fountain¹. Follow the signs to Kastraki - Meteora. Once you get to meet you Kastraki junction², which we left the road, after 3 km will bring us to the monastery of Agios Nikolaos (rest).

The second single to meet, just above the monastery Rousanou. We continue our journey and about 5 km away junction³ which informs us that the bias to the left leads to the monasteries and the Great Meteoro Barlaam and closed right at the monasteries of Agia Triada and Agios Stefanos. We choose the left path and less than 1 km we find a new fork. Left brings us to the Monastery of Barlaam (250 m) and the Great Meteor right (1 km).

After visiting these two monasteries, we return to the previous junction and take the right turn off mentioned above. This road leads to the monasteries of Agia Triada and Agios Stefanos. In return we have two options: to return the same way or to go and return from the odd sideways right road⁴ makes the circle and brings us back to the entrance of Kalampaka⁵.