Two days of activities dedicated to protecting the Meteora–Pyli Geopark, culminating in a concert by Loudovikos of Anogeia
The Meteora–Pyli Geopark, recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark, encompasses the Municipalities of Meteora and Pyli and covers an area of 2,409.5 km².
The Geopark’s cultural highlight is undoubtedly the complex of monasteries built atop the rocks of Meteora, whose significance was recognised by UNESCO in 1988 through their designation as a World Heritage Site. The Meteora–Pyli Geopark showcases its geological, natural and cultural heritage, offering visitors the opportunity to explore a rich network of geosites and habitats, archaeological sites and monuments. Visitors can also enjoy hiking through a unique natural environment, take part in a wide range of ecotourism and sporting activities, and participate in educational programmes and cultural festivals.
The Municipality of Meteora is therefore organising a two-day programme dedicated to the protection of the Meteora–Pyli Geopark on 4 and 5 September, featuring guided hiking georoutes, voluntary trail clean-ups, educational recycling workshops and a photography exhibition. The programme culminates in “The Culture of Stone”, a concert by Loudovikos of Anogeia, on Friday, 4 September at at 8.30 pm at Theopetra Park, opposite the Theopetra Cave Documentation and Education Centre.
The Meteora–Pyli Geopark took millions of years to form. Yet it can be destroyed within a single generation. This very realisation lies at the heart of the two-day programme. Protecting a landscape that took geological time to form is not solely the responsibility of experts; it is also the responsibility of the community that lives within it. The activities have been designed so that visitors are not merely passive observers, but active participants in the protection of the Geopark’s geosites.
“The Geopark is not a landscape we simply look at from a distance. It is the place where we live, work and raise our children. These two days are an invitation to care for it together — because what took millions of years to create can either be protected or lost within a single generation,” said Lefteris Avramopoulos, Mayor of Meteora.
“Stone is nature’s work: steadfast, certain, and instructive through its very presence. It teaches us to be strong, it teaches us endurance, it teaches us certainty. That is why we have given the concert the title ‘The Culture of Stone’,” said Loudovikos of Anogeia
Hourly Schedule
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER – THEOPETRA PARK
- 18:00 - 20:30
- Workshop: Creating with Recyclable Materials
- A creative workshop for children and families, focusing on reuse and waste reduction.
- 18:00 - 20:30
- Photography Exhibition
- An exhibition dedicated to the people who live and work in the Geopark — exploring their relationship with stone, the landscape and the place they call home.
- 18:00 - 20:30
- Information Stand: “Discover – Protect – Participate”
- Ongoing information about the Geopark, with video screenings and printed materials available at the information stand.
- 20:30 - 23:00
- Concert: “The Culture of Stone”
- The artistic highlight of the event, featuring Loudovikos of Anogeia.
SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER – GEOPARK TRAILS
- 08:00 - 12:00
- Georoutes with Specialist Mountain Guides
- Two parallel guided hiking routes through the Geopark’s geosites, accompanied by interpretation of the geological history of the rock formations and the landscape:<br/>a) Meteora Rock Formations Route<br/>b) Gavros Geosites Route (Little Meteora)
- 08:00 - 12:00
- Volunteer Trail-Cleaning Activity
- Open participation in trail cleaning and the recording of any damage or deterioration along trails in the Meteora rock formations area.
