Explore St. Anthony's Monastery

St. Anthony's Monastery is seen to be the world's oldest monastery, having been founded by devotees of St. Anthony, the father of monasticism. It is located 254 kilometers north of Hurghada, among desolate rocks. St. Anthony retreated to a cave to lead an ascetic life of prayer and solitude, and the monastery is located right below the cave.

The monastery, which began as a small cluster of humble dwellings, is now encircled by massive defended walls constructed in the 10th century when monks were repeatedly attacked by Bedouin invaders. Inside, the monastery's monks still reside in caramel-toned mud-brick buildings surrounded by palm-tree-shaded grounds. The wall paintings within the 6th-century Church of St. Anthony are the great attractions of a visit here. The interior is adorned with vibrantly colored and remarkably well-preserved murals of Coptic saints, which are widely regarded as among the best examples of Egyptian Coptic Christian craftsmanship. St. Anthony's Cave, 270 meters up the cliffside above the monastery, is a religious pilgrimage site. The saint spent the final 20 years of his life here. The cave is now accessible by a steep stairway that winds its climb up the rock, providing breathtaking views of the monastery and desert below.