Updated October 2026. Entry fees change and are not listed here.
Debre Libanos is one of the holiest monasteries in Ethiopia, set on a ledge beneath tall cliffs at the edge of the dramatic Jemma gorge, about 100 km north of Addis Ababa. It combines history, faith and landscape: a monastery founded in the 13th century, a spring and cave linked to its founder saint, geladas on the cliffs, and some of the finest views of the Ethiopian highlands within a two-hour drive of the capital.
The monastery
Debre Libanos was founded in the late 13th century by Saint Tekle Haymanot, one of the most revered saints of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and for centuries it was one of the country’s most important centres of learning and religious authority. Pilgrims come throughout the year, and in great numbers on the saint’s feast days.
The present church was built in the 1960s in the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, with a large dome, a tall bell tower and colourful stained-glass windows. Above the monastery, a path climbs to a cave and holy-water spring associated with Tekle Haymanot, where pilgrims collect water believed to heal.
A painful history
In May 1937, during the Italian occupation, Italian forces killed a large number of monks, deacons and pilgrims at Debre Libanos in reprisal for an attempt on the life of the Italian viceroy. It is one of the darkest episodes of the occupation, and the monastery remembers its dead. For the wider story, see Ethiopia: a brief history.
The Jemma gorge and the “Portuguese bridge”
The road to Debre Libanos runs along the rim of the Jemma valley, a tributary of the Blue Nile, with sweeping views down into the gorge. A few kilometres from the monastery is an old stone bridge over a stream that falls into the gorge. It is popularly called the Portuguese bridge, but it was actually built in the 19th century. Walk out to the viewpoints nearby for the best views, and look for geladas grazing on the edges of the cliffs, and lammergeiers riding the air below.
How to visit
- By car: about 100 km from Addis Ababa on the road north to Fiche, around two hours each way. It makes an easy day trip, or an overnight stop at one of the lodges on the gorge edge.
- Dress: modest clothes, with shoulders and knees covered. Women should cover their hair in church. Remove your shoes before entering.
- Guides: a local guide can show you the church, the cave and the spring. Ask before photographing priests and pilgrims.
When to go
The dry season from October to May is best for clear views. In the rainy months of June to September the gorge is at its greenest, but mist can hide the valley. See when to visit.
More day trips from Addis Ababa
Combine Debre Libanos with other easy trips from the capital: the crater lake of Wenchi, the lakes of Bishoftu, or the hot springs of Sodere. For Ethiopia’s religious life, see religion and language.
