The lovely and quiet tiny village of Soğanlı is 36km south of Mustafapaşa. We hiked for a few hours through its valleys – Aşağı (Lower) Soğanlı and Yukarı (Upper) Soğanlı. There are hidden several rock-cut churches carved from the soft tuff stone. Byzantine monks inhabited the valley from...
We parked in the southwest Cappadocia next to a canyon rimmed by high cliffs that hide rock-cut churches. The 15 km long and up to 150 m deep canyon was formed in prehistoric times by the Melendiz River. From the 7th century AD, the valley was settled by Byzantine monks who dug their...
On the way to Mazurian Lake District, we made two stops. The first stop was the tiny village Święta Lipka (parking 20 PLN). Despite its size, it is well known religious center and a pilgrimage site. In fact, it is one of the most celebrated in the country. Within the monastery complex...
We made it to north-east Slovakia to Hervartov village. In historical records, the village was first mentioned in 1406. Here we found one of the most valuable sacral buildings in Slovakia – the Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis of Assisi. It was built in the late 15th century made of...
Today’s other shortstop was a formerly independent municipality in Eastern Slovakia listed in UNESCO. It was one of the centers of the ecclesiastic education in Slovakia. It consists of the Cathedral of St. Martin with two towers built between the years 1245-1275. In 1382 a Corpus Christi...
We made a short stop at the magnificent church in Svaty Kriz. It is one of the largest wooden constructions in Central Europe. Its ground plan has the shape of a cross and is 43 meters long. This church was transported from one of the villages that are now flooded under the Liptovska Mara...
In rainy weather, we have arrived at a small village Hronsek with UNESCO listed Wooden articular Church. It is 8 meters high wooden structure built in the shape of a cross with arms 23 and 18 meters long. As there are many unusual motives from Scandinavian architecture, it is assumed that...
Late afternoon the rain was not so heavy so we made one more stop for evening mass at The Pühtitsa Dormition Convent, located in the center of Kuremäe. It had a great unforgettable spiritual atmosphere. It was established in 1891 and is the only functioning Russian Orthodox nunnery in...
On the way to Gausta Mountain, we stopped by two lovely stave churches. A stave church is a medieval wooden Christian church building; the name derives from the building’s structure of post and lintel construction. Our first stop was Seljord church dedicated to St Olav. It was built...