Himara Castle & Old Town
In town — 15–20 min walk uphill from the promenade
Kloster
Panagia Drymadon Monastery
Hilltop above Dhermi village, 257 m elevation
- Epoche
- 13th–14th century
- Von Himara
- ~15 km north on SH8 (20 min drive + 15 min walk)
- Eintritt
- Free
- Öffnungszeiten
- Generally accessible during daylight hours; the church interior may be locked outside services — ask at the village or visit on a major feast day
- Zeitbedarf
- 45 minutes – 1 hour
Über Panagia Drymadon Monastery
Das Kloster Panagia Drymadon (albanisch: Manastiri i Shën Mërisë, griechisch: Παναγία Δρυμάδων) — auch Kloster der Heiligen Maria genannt — liegt auf einer Hügelkuppe auf 257 m Höhe über dem Dorf Dhermi. Im 13.–14. Jahrhundert erbaut, ist es ein Kulturdenkmal Albaniens und eines der am besten erhaltenen Beispiele religiöser Architektur der byzantinischen Zeit an der Albanischen Riviera. Das Kloster war über 600 Jahre durchgehend in Betrieb — durch den byzantinischen Niedergang, die osmanische Herrschaft und die italienische Besatzung hindurch — bis 1967, als das kommunistische Regime die letzte Nonne zum Verlassen zwang.
Geschichte
The basilica was founded in the 13th–14th century during the late Byzantine period. The Himariot population maintained Orthodox practice through 500 years of Ottoman rule, and Panagia Drymadon remained operational throughout. In 1781, the Archbishop of Himara and Delvina commissioned a fresco programme that still survives in the church interior — one of the best-preserved fresco cycles on the coast. The monastery functioned without interruption until 1967, when Hoxha's regime forced the closure of all religious institutions in Albania. The last nun was expelled. Restoration began in the early 1990s.
Was du siehst
The 13th–14th century basilica with original Byzantine masonry; the 1781 fresco programme commissioned by the Archbishop of Himara and Delvina — one of the most complete fresco cycles on the Riviera; the surviving monastic cells around the church; panoramic views over Dhermi village below, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the coastline extending north to Llogara and south to Himara.
Fotos
So besuchst du es
Drive north from Himara on SH8 (~15 km, 20 min) and continue into Dhermi village. From the upper village, follow Rruga Vlladas or ask locally for directions — the monastery is signed and visible on the hillside above. A short 10–15 minute walk uphill from the upper village leads to the monastery. The path is paved but steep in places.
Beste Besuchszeit
Late morning for best light on the frescoes inside the church (when the doors are open). The hilltop position is exposed; afternoon visits in summer can be hot. Major Orthodox feast days (Assumption, 15 August) draw the largest local gatherings.
Tiefgang: Vollständiger Besucher-Guide
Geschichte, praktische Tipps und Hinweise zur Route ausführlich — der Artikel, der tiefer geht als diese Seite.
In der Nähe
- DhermiStrand
- Saint Theodore MonasteryKloster
- Drymades BeachStrand
Fragen
How do you get to Panagia Drymadon Monastery?
Drive north from Himara on SH8 to Dhermi (~15 km, 20 min). From the upper village, follow Rruga Vlladas — the monastery is signed and visible on the hillside above. A 10–15 minute walk uphill from the upper village leads to the site. The path is paved but steep in places.
When can you go inside the church?
The hilltop and church exterior are accessible any time during daylight. The interior — including the 1781 frescoes — is generally locked outside services. Ask at the village, or plan your visit for a major Orthodox feast day (Assumption on 15 August draws the largest crowds and the church will be open).
Is Panagia Drymadon still active?
Yes — the monastery was restored after 1990 and Orthodox services resume on major feast days. It is no longer a permanent monastic community (the last nun was forced out in 1967), but it functions as an active church and pilgrimage site. Services and gatherings happen most reliably on the Assumption (15 August).
How old are the frescoes at Panagia Drymadon?
The fresco programme dates to 1781, commissioned by the Archbishop of Himara and Delvina. It is one of the best-preserved post-Byzantine fresco cycles on the Albanian Riviera. The basilica itself is older — 13th–14th century — but the surviving paintings inside are the late 18th-century commission.
Weitere Sehenswürdigkeiten in der Nähe von Himara
Weiter entdecken
Fehlt etwas oder ist etwas falsch? Schreib uns an info@himara.net