Sumela Monastery
Μονή Παναγίας Σουμελά Sümela Manastırı | |
View of Sumela monastery from across the valley | |
Location within Turkey | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Established | c. 386 CE |
| Disestablished | 1923 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Ruins |
| Functional status | Tourist attraction |
| Heritage designation | Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Site | |
| Location | Maçka, Trabzon Province, Turkey |
| Coordinates | 40°41′24″N 39°39′30″E / 40.69000°N 39.65833°E |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | www |
Sumela Monastery (Greek: Μονή Παναγίας Σουμελά, Moní Panagías Soumelá; Turkish: Sümela Manastırı) is a museum and former Greek Orthodox monastery in the Pontic Mountains, in the Maçka district of Trabzon province, Turkey.
Nestled in a steep cliff at an elevation of about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) facing the Altındere valley, it is a site of great historical and cultural significance, as well as a major tourist attraction within Altındere National Park. Previously, the monastery was closed to the public on September 22, 2015, for safety reasons due to an increase in rock falls, and it reopened to tourists on May 25, 2019. The monastery is one of the most important historic and touristic venues in Trabzon.