Wadi al-Nasara

Wadi al-Nasara, the Valley of the Christians, is a broad green valley in the Homs gap where dozens of villages have kept a largely Greek Orthodox character for centuries. Its heart is the monastery of Saint George, Deir Mar Georges, founded by tradition in the sixth century, with two churches, an old courtyard and a famous ancient iconostasis; its feast days fill the valley. Springs, orchards and the sight of Crac des Chevaliers on its ridge above complete one of Syria's gentlest landscapes.

What you actually see

• Saint George monastery - the old courtyards and carved iconostasis.
• The villages - stone-built settlements over the green valley.
• The springs and orchards - the water that makes the valley.
• The Crac view - the great castle on the ridge above.

When to go

April to June and September to November are mild and green. The Saint George feasts in spring and autumn animate the valley. Summer is warm but softer than the interior.

Honest expectations

The monastery keeps visiting hours around services - dress and behave for a working monastery. The valley is best with a car; transport between villages is thin. Facilities are village-simple.

Nearby

Crac des Chevaliers is on the ridge above, and Homs is east.