5 Isolated Monasteries Around The World

Some say love makes the heart sore. Well, the love of God must make the body sore, too. That’s certainly the case if these monasteries are anything to go by. Not only are these 5 buildings befitting the worship of the heavens, they’re also a right pain in the backside to get to. “Inaccessible” doesn’t even come close

# The Monastery Of Ostrog, Montenegro

This Serbian Orthodox Church can be found high up in the rock face of Ostroška Greda—carved out of the stone. It is the most popular pilgrimage site in Montenegro and thousands of people visit each year. Founded by Vasilije, the Metropolitan Bishop of Herzegovina in the 17th century, the bishop is enshrined here, in the cave-church. One of the reasons for the large amount of visits is that many believe praying near the body of Vasilije can cure one’s ailments, or at the very least, have the difficulties of your life reduced.

# Metéora, Greece

Metéora—meaning “middle of the sky”—is high up on a sandstone pillar in the Plain of Thessaly in central Greece. The Eastern Orthodox monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site with perhaps the coolest origin story of the lot. Fable has it that the founder of the monastery, St. Athanasius, didn’t need to climb the rock face to plonk his religious flag in the sandstone: instead, he was carried to the dizzy heights by an eagle.

For most humble visitors however, carved steps are the only mode of transport to the top. Before the 1920s, most people had to use ropes and pulleys to climb to the top, and when it was built in the 14th century, ladders and nets were used to transport the materials over the 550-meter (1,800-ft) drop. The monastery is also famous for having featured in the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only.

# Buddhist Monastery Of Ki, India

Looking like something out of Lord of the Rings, the Monastery of Ki (also spelled “Ki,” “Kye,” or “Kee”) is located in Ki Village, in the Himalayas. The Tibetan Buddhist monastery is on top of a hill at an altitude of 4,166 meters (13,670 ft) above sea level overlooking the Spiti Valley. It is a religious training center for Lamas and has seen multiple attacks by the Mongols and other armies.

# Kozheozersky Monastery

The Kozheozersky Monastery is an Orthodox monastery located near the Lake Kozhozero, in the northwestern part of Russia—one of the most remote areas on the planet. The Kozheozersky Monastery, founded in the 1500s, is therefore one of the hardest buildings in the world to get to—in short, no roads lead there.

Instead, anyone wishing to visit the monastery must first hop a train to Nimenga Station, then hitch a lift up a forest track with a lumber truck (or walk if you can’t find a truck), and finally walk the last 32 kilometers (20 mi) by foot. Even then, however, there’s still the tricky obstacle of the lake. Travelers must light a fire and await a boat to be sent over from the other side. Needless to say, the monastery has no electricity or Internet, so make sure you let people know where you’re going before you leave.

# Phugtal Gompa, India

Hidden away in the remote southeastern Zanskar region, high in the Himalayas, lies Phugtal Gompa, chiseled out of the cliff face of a massive gorge some 3,800 meters (12,500 ft) up. Home to some 70 monks, the extraordinary structure was established in the 12th century by Lama Gangsem Sherap Sampo. Rather amazingly, though the structure is made of mud bricks, stones, and wood, it has survived hundreds of years.