visitcorinthia.comZaraka Monastery
Beside Lake Stymphalia stands a building that catches you off guard: a Gothic monastery in the heart of the Peloponnese. Zaraka was built in the 13th century by Cistercian monks during the Frankish period, and it is one of the very few examples of Gothic monastic architecture surviving in Greece.
What you will see
Though ruined, the complex still reads clearly: pointed arches, piers, a three-aisled church and stretches of the enclosure wall. The light falling through the openings onto bare stone, with the lake and mountains behind, makes the visit memorable — especially in late afternoon.
The monastery was abandoned only a few decades after it was founded. Today it is an open archaeological site, a stone throw from ancient Stymphalos.
Practical notes
- At Stymphalia, roughly 60 km from Corinth.
- The ground is uneven — wear comfortable, closed shoes.
- It pairs naturally with the Stymphalos site and the Environment Museum.
Online at: https://visitcorinthia.com/en/sights/zaraka-monastery/
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Printed on: 18/10/2026
Scan to open the page with maps, photos and updates.
Printed on: 18/10/2026