Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter

Ruins Coptic monastery in Upper Egypt with ancient manuscripts

Near Qena, the Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter is a Coptic desert monastery visited by pilgrims and those interested in monastic life, rock-cut chapels and manuscript collections.

St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Angel Frescos.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Apostles Fresco.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Cleaned Frescoes Detail.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Cleaned Frescos.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Coptic Inscription.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Exterior with Pottery.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Main Basilica Door.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Main Church from Chapel.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Main Church.jpg
St. Matthew the Potter Monastery Esna Main Tower and Monastery Complex.jpg
Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter
Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter (Deir al-Muharrik), Qena Governorate, Egypt
25.3698, 32.4807

Best Time to Visit Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter #

Visit between October and April when temperatures are milder and visiting the desert-area monastery is more comfortable.

Cool season (best to visit)
Oct-Apr · 15-30°C
Milder temperatures make travel and site visits more comfortable across the desert environment around the monastery.
Hot season
May-Sep · 30-42°C
Very hot daytime temperatures typical of Upper Egypt; travel in the heat of the day can be uncomfortable.

Weather & Climate near Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter #

Climate

Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 41°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.

Best Time to Visit
AprilOctoberMarch
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
47°
Warmest Month
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 6°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
23°
45%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.0
UV Index
High
10.6h daylight

February

February is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 8°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

97 Ideal

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
25°
36%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.4
UV Index
High
11.2h daylight

March

March is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 12°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

98 Ideal

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
12° 29°
26%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.9
UV Index
Very High
11.9h daylight

April

April is warm with highs of 35°C and lows of 17°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

100 Ideal

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
17° 35°
20%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.3
UV Index
Extreme
12.6h daylight

May

May is hot with highs of 39°C and lows of 22°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

92 Ideal

Comfort

30°
Feels Like Hot
30°C
Temperature
22° 39°
18%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.5
UV Index
Extreme
13.3h daylight

June

June is hot with highs of 41°C and lows of 24°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

92 Ideal

Comfort

32°
Feels Like Hot
32°C
Temperature
24° 41°
18%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.7
UV Index
Extreme
13.6h daylight

July

July is the hottest month with highs of 41°C and lows of 25°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

91 Ideal

Comfort

33°
Feels Like Hot
33°C
Temperature
25° 41°
20%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.7
UV Index
Extreme
13.4h daylight

August

August is hot with highs of 40°C and lows of 24°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

91 Ideal

Comfort

32°
Feels Like Hot
32°C
Temperature
24° 41°
21%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.5
UV Index
Extreme
12.9h daylight

September

September is hot with highs of 38°C and lows of 22°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

92 Ideal

Comfort

30°
Feels Like Hot
30°C
Temperature
22° 39°
25%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
12.2h daylight

October

October is warm with highs of 35°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

99 Ideal

Comfort

27°
Feels Like Warm
27°C
Temperature
19° 35°
30%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.6
UV Index
Very High
11.4h daylight

November

November is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 12°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

97 Ideal

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
13° 29°
40%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.2
UV Index
High
10.8h daylight

December

December is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 8°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

97 Ideal

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
24°
47%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.9
UV Index
Moderate
10.4h daylight

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