Badovas

Badovas is a sandstone rock formation in the Meteora region, rising between Kastraki village and Kalabaka town. The rock contains multiple cave levels that historically served as living spaces and religious chambers.

The rock holds a monastery dedicated to Saint Nicholas, built in the 14th century within a natural cave cavity. This construction was part of the larger monastic movement that developed across the Meteora region during medieval times.

The caves here show different ways monks lived and practiced their faith through preserved wooden ladders and old living spaces. You can see traces of daily monastic life directly built into the rock.

Access to this site works best through guided tours that include exploration of the caves and monastery structures. Wear comfortable shoes, as the paths through the rock can be steep and narrow in places.

This rock was home to hermit monks living in its various cave levels until the 19th century. This continuous occupation makes it a rare example of a long-inhabited monastic community within the region.