This summer, many of us traveled all over Europe for the holidays. And many of us set down our suitcases in this country that has a place that arouses the curiosity of tourists but which is forbidden to women. It has been the rule for centuries…
The summer season is slowly coming to an end and French tourists have undoubtedly, once again, flocked in their thousands to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia and even… Greece. The country of feta, tzatziki and pretty white houses recently introduced a hefty climate tax on all rental properties in order to combat the devastating effects of overtourism. At the same time, one particular spot in the country is arousing curiosity and limiting access…
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Indeed, there are many places to see in Greece: the Parthenon in Athens, the windmills in Mykonos, the black beach in Santorini or the Meteora near Trikala. And for tourists less influenced by Instagram photos or TikTok videos, another region is also worth a visit, that of the Chalkidiki peninsula. This is where we find a tourist site that has been forbidden to women since… 1046! A decree signed by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomachus that no one has ever managed to change, including the European Parliament, which had voted in 2003 for 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? It 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 forbidden there”. Why? According to legend, Mary, mother of Jesus, on her way to Cyprus, fell in love with Mount Athos and then asked God for the land as a gift. Since then, and respecting a vow of celibacy and chastity, the monks refuse the presence of women, officially to avoid temptation.
It is, however, possible to visit Mount Athos and the monasteries if you are a man. But with drastic constraints: access is limited each day to about a hundred Orthodox visitors and about fifteen other religions. You must have made a request in advance to the pilgrims’ office, located in the seaside town of Ouranoupoli, to obtain a pass called a “diamonitirion”. It costs about 35 euros. Furthermore, access is only by boat from the city. On site, you must also be dressed with long pants and long sleeves. It is possible to spend the night there.
