Where are the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela?
Quick answer
The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are in the town of Lalibela in northern Ethiopia, in the Amhara region. The 11 churches were carved downward into solid volcanic rock in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, traditionally under King Lalibela. They’re a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still used for worship.
How they were made
Instead of building up with blocks, workers dug down into the red volcanic tuff, cutting deep trenches around a block of rock and then carving out the inside: walls, windows, columns and roofs, all from a single piece of stone. Some churches are connected by tunnels and passages.
A “New Jerusalem”
Tradition says King Gebre Meskel Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty ordered the churches built as a “New Jerusalem” after Muslim conquests made pilgrimages to the Holy Land difficult. The site even has a stream named the Jordan River. Legend says angels helped carve the churches at night.
The most famous church
Bete Giyorgis (Church of St. George) is carved in the shape of a cross when seen from above. It sits in a pit about 12 m deep and is one of the most photographed buildings in Africa.
The churches
| Group | Notable churches |
|---|---|
| Northern group | Bete Medhane Alem (possibly the largest monolithic church in the world), Bete Maryam |
| Eastern group | Bete Amanuel, Bete Gabriel-Rufael |
| Standalone | Bete Giyorgis |
A living holy site
Lalibela is a center of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Priests still hold services, and thousands of pilgrims dressed in white gather for Genna (Ethiopian Christmas, January 7) and Timkat (Epiphany).
Before you go
The churches became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The northern Amhara region has experienced conflict in recent years, so travelers should check current official travel advice before planning a visit.
For other places carved from rock, see Petra. For other wonders of Africa, see Lesotho, the Kingdom in the Sky.
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