Osios Loukas Monastery

On your way up to the slopes of Mt. Parnassos and the archaeological site of Delphi, about 13 km before the town of Aráhova, leave the main road and turn towards the village of Distomο and Stýri. Keep driving for about 9 km and the road will bring you to one of the most impressive monuments in the Mediterranean Sea: the monastery of Ossios Loukas, situated in a picturesque valley teemed with olive trees. Byzantine monasteries are built in sites characterized by amazing natural beauty, always in harmony with the surrounding landscape, following the example of the ancient temples.

In a landscape untouched by time, you will discover two magnificent Byzantine churches decorated with frescoes and mosaics, with their characteristic golden background (10-11th century AD). The Byzantine abundance of the monastery still functioning today was recently brought to light due to a successful restoration project. The monastery was founded around the middle of the 10th century AD by the monk Loukás from Stýri. His relics are exhibited in the Katholicon (main church of the monastery). They were stolen by the Crusaders during the 13th AD and kept in the Vatican for centuries.

The mountain is also the home for many types of wild animals such as wolves, foxes, ferrets, weasels, squirrels, eagles, vultures, hawks, wild boards, snakes and many more.

For more information you can visit Parnassus National Park Management Body website: parnassosnp.gr