The journey through the gorges opened up into a large car-park, which was quite a relief after the narrow road. From that viewpoint you can see the quaint hermitage built into the rocky outcrop.
Since the seventh century, the natural grottes of Galamus, ” the holy mount “, have become
a refuge for the hermits . They built their humble cells, lived in prayer and abstinence, then died .
They placed the site under the protection of Saint Anthony the Great, the patriarch of the monks of the desert .The Franciscans fit out the site in the 15th century . It has become a traditional place of pilgrimage on Easter and Whitsun Mondays .
Wow, truly spectacular!
Did you visit that church?
No, there wasn’t time but I would love to go back and that for lots of reasons.
That looks a very interesting place to visit. Would it be dangerous to climb up to the hermitage?
There is a pathway to it. It starts from the carpark and goes down into the gorge and then you have to walk up the other side. I didn’t go along it so I am not sure how safe or how long it is.