Altındere Valley National Park

Altındere Valley National Park is a protected valley and forest reserve in Trabzon Province in northeastern Turkey, established in 1987 to conserve the valley and the historic monastery carved into its cliffs.

The park’s highlight is the cliffside complex of Sumela Monastery, set into a sheer rock face and accessible by a marked uphill trail; the site includes chapels and frescoed interiors. The valley also offers woodland trails, waterfalls and viewpoints that look down the Altındere gorge.

According to local tradition the monastery was founded in AD 386 by two Athenian monks; it was expanded in Byzantine and later periods and remained an active Orthodox site until the 20th century. The valley and monastery have undergone conservation and restoration work since the area received protected status in the late 20th century.

The park sits in the foothills of the Kaçkar range near the district town of Maçka, about 45 kilometres southwest of the city of Trabzon on the Black Sea coast. The site occupies a steep, forested gorge cut by the Altındere stream.

• Sumela access: Located within the national park and visible from the main trailhead; the monastery sits high on a cliff and requires a steep uphill walk from the parking area.
• Protection: Established as a protected area in 1987 to conserve the valley landscape and the historic monastery.

What to See #

• Sumela Monastery: A rock-cut Greek Orthodox monastery founded in AD 386 according to tradition, built into a steep cliff at high elevation and noted for its surviving Byzantine frescoes and chapel spaces.
• Altındere Valley: The steep-sided Altındere valley carved by the Altındere stream, containing mixed broadleaf and conifer forest, trails, and waterfalls that lead up to the monastery area.