This summer, many of us traveled all over Europe for vacation. And many have set down their suitcases in this country which has a place which arouses the curiosity of tourists but which is forbidden to women. This has been the rule for centuries…
The summer season is slowly coming to an end and French tourists have undoubtedly once again flocked by the thousands to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia and even… Greece. The land of feta, tzatziki and pretty white houses recently introduced a hefty climate tax for all accommodation rentals in order to combat the devastating effects of overtourism. At the same time, a particular spot in the country arouses curiosity and limits its access…
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Indeed, there are plenty of places to see in Greece: the Parthenon in Athens, the windmills in Mykonos, the black beach in Santorini or even Meteora near Trikala. And for tourists less influenced by Instagram photos or TikTok videos, another region is also worth it, that of the Halkidiki peninsula. It is here that we find a tourist site prohibited to women and has been since… 1046! A decree signed by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomachus that no one has ever managed to change, including the European Parliament which voted in 2003 a resolution in favor of opening the site to women, without success. The place “benefits from a special self-administered system under Hellenic constitutional law“, reports UNESCO.
But what is this place? This is Mount Athos, a sacred mountain on which 2,000 monks live, all spread across 20 Orthodox monasteries. Even today – and despite very, very rare exceptions over the decades – “all female animal species are prohibited”. For what ? According to legend, Mary, mother of Jesus, on her way to Cyprus, fell in love with Mount Athos and then asked for the land as a gift from God. Since then, and respecting a vow of celibacy and chastity, the monks have refused the presence of women, officially to avoid temptations.
However, it is possible to visit Mount Athos and the monasteries when you are a man. But with drastic constraints: access is limited each day to around a hundred Orthodox visitors and around fifteen other religions. You must first apply to the pilgrims’ office, located in the seaside town of Ouranoupoli, to obtain a pass called “diamonitirion”. It costs around 35 euros. Furthermore, access is only by boat from the city. On site, you must also be dressed in long pants and long sleeves. It is possible to spend the night there.
