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, with co-funding from the Green Fund, is organizing a two-day event dedicated to the protection of the Meteora–Pili Geopark on September 4 and 5. The event will feature geotrail hikes, volunteer trail cleanups, educational recycling workshops, and a photography exhibition. The program culminates with the concert “The Culture of Stone” by Loudovikos of Anogia on Friday, September 4, 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
Programme for the Two-Day Event
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FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER – THEOPETRA PARK |
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Workshop: Creating with Recyclable Materials 18:00 – 20:30 |
A creative workshop for children and families, focusing on reuse and waste reduction. |
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Photography Exhibition 18:00 – 20:30 |
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. |
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Concert: “The Culture of Stone” 20:30 – 23:00 |
The artistic highlight of the event, featuring Loudovikos of Anogeia. |
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SATURDAY 5 OF SEPTEMBER – GEOPARK’S TRAILS |
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Georoutes with Specialist Mountain Guides 08:00 – 12:00 |
Two parallel guided hiking routes through the Geopark’s geosites, accompanied by interpretation of the geological history of the rock formations and the landscape: The trails are easy and do not require any special equipment. |
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Volunteer Trail-Cleaning Activity 08:00 – 12:00 |
Open participation in trail cleaning and the recording of any damage or deterioration along trails in the Meteora rock formations area. |
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“Discover-Protect-Participate” Themed Information Booth All day |
The themed information booth will serve as the central hub for environmental awareness, providing information on the protection and promotion of the geosites and the natural environment of the Meteora–Pili Geopark. Through informational materials, personalized guidance, and interactive engagement, it will encourage visitors to adopt responsible environmental practices and actively participate in the event’s activities. |
To participate in the hikes or the trail cleanup activity in Meteora, those interested should register via the Geopark’s official website at the link:
https://www.meteorapyligeopark.gr/diimero-draseon-gia-tin-prostasia-tou-geoparkou-meteoron-pylis-me-koryfosi-ti-synavlia-tou-loudovikou-ton-anogeion/
