Karoulia, Monastic settlement in Mount Athos, Greece.
Karoulia is a monastic settlement on Mount Athos consisting of 12 huts and caves scattered along the southern coast between 100 and 500 meters in elevation. The buildings stretch vertically along steep cliffs and incorporate natural caves to blend into the landscape.
The monastic settlement was established in the 17th century as a foundation for hermitic life on Mount Athos. The continuity of habitation since then demonstrates how the monastic tradition has persisted in this extremely remote location.
The name Karoulia relates to the pulleys and rope systems that monks use daily to receive supplies from passing boats. This practice shapes daily life and makes the isolation of the place immediately tangible.
Reaching the settlement means climbing ladders or ropes to access the caves and huts. Nearby Katounakia port offers ferry connections to Dafni harbor, which serves as the main transport link to the mountain.
Around 10 hermits inhabit this extreme location, some in Inner Karoulia where rock surrounds the dwellings, others in Outer Karoulia closer to the sea. This division reflects different degrees of seclusion that monks consciously choose.
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