Af kule Monastery

The Timeless Beauty of Afkule Monastery: A Pilgrimage of Peace

The Rich History of Afkule Monastery

Scholars believe Afkule Monastery was first established sometime in the 6th century AD, during the reign of the Byzantine Empire. Remote mountain regions like this were commonly chosen by early monastic communities seeking spiritual solitude.

Carved into the rugged limestone cliffs, the monastery flourished for hundreds of years as a center of Greek Orthodox Christianity and learning. Monks would have spent their days in prayer, meditation, calligraphy and tending the terraced gardens which still cling to the mountainsides.

Afkule is thought to have reached its peak influence around the 9th-11th centuries. Remains of an intricate network of tunnels and cisterns suggest it once housed dozens of monks during this Golden Age. Stylized stone crosses adorning walls are a lasting testament to their faith.

Sadly, the rise of the Seljuk Turks in the late 11th century brought unrest to Anatolia. Monasteries like Afkule were increasingly targeted for raids and later fell into disrepair due to depopulation. By the 15th century it had been completely abandoned.

In the 1970s a Greek researcher rediscovered Afkule's crumbling ruins amidst the maquis scrub. Since then, intermittent excavations have helped piece together its storied past. Though a shell of its former self, the monastery's isolated beauty remains profoundly spiritual.

Discover Spiritual Serenity at Afkule Monastery

Nestled within a rugged mountain eyrie high above the sparkling Turquoise Coast lies the ancient refuge of Afkule Monastery. Atmospheric ruins perched at over 1150m provide profound historical insight together with an unforgettable natural setting.

Believed to be founded as early as the 6th century AD, this isolated Greek Orthodox monastery was a place of worship and learning for over a thousand years. Explore the remaining stone arches and courtyards adorned with carved crosses, transporting you back to a simpler time of spiritual reflection.

Following the vertiginous hike , hikers will be rewarded with magnificent panoramic views stretching as far as Kaş, Kalkan and the Mediterranean beyond. Admire wildflowers, butterflies and scattered olive groves carpeting the rugged hillsides below.

Owing to its remoteness, the monastery fell into disuse by villagers and only rediscovered in the 1970s. Today it remains perfectly peaceful to wander alone with your thoughts, far from any crowds or commercialism.

Spend an uplifting afternoon soaking in Afkule’s aura of antiquity and tranquility without distraction. Picnic amidst millennia of history before beginning your descent as shadows lengthen. New perspectives will linger long after leaving this treasured pocket of solitude high in the clouds.