Bassae, Greece

Bassae highlights

Known for archaeological site, viewpoint

archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Bassae is an archaeological site in Oichalia, a municipality in the northeastern part of Messenia, Greece, remotely located at an elevation of 1,131 meters above sea level on the slopes of Kotylion Mountain. The site is famous for the well-preserved 5th century BC Temple of Apollo Epicurius, the very first Greek site to be inscribed in 1986 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Other places in Greece that we are familiar with

Acrocorinth - Known for fortress, medieval old town, viewpoint

Aigai (Aegae) - Known for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, museum; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ancient Corinth - Known for archaeological site, museum

Antirrio - Known for bridge, fortress, viewpoint

Arachova - Known for free time, mountain town

Argos - Known for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, castle, orthodox cathedral; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Arta - Known for bridge, byzantine empire, castle, museum, orthodox cathedral

Athens - Known for archaeological site, museum; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Chalkida - Known for beach, castle, coastal town, marina, museum, viewpoint

Corfu - Known for archaeological site, beach, fortress, historical center, island, marina, medieval old town, museum, promenade, scenic road, sightseeing, viewpoint

Corinth - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site, beach, bridge, coastal town, fortress, landmark, viewpoint

Corinth canal - Known for landmark, viewpoint

Delphi - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site, museum; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Dimitsana - Known for bridge, hiking pass, mountain town, scenic road, viewpoint, orthodox monastery

Dion - Known for archaeological park

Diros - Known for cave, coastal town

Dodoni - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Elonas - Known for scenic road, viewpoint, orthodox monastery

Epidaurus - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Galaxidi - Known for coastal town, marina, promenade

Hosios Loukas - Known for orthodox monastery; monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Igoumenitsa - Known for beach, coastal town, seaport

Ioannina - Known for ancient settlement, fortress, lake, museum, park, venetian empire, orthodox monastery

Kalamata - Known for beach, castle, museum, orthodox cathedral

Kalampaka - Known for museum, natural phenomenon, viewpoint

Koroni - Known for beach, coastal town, fortress, promenade, viewpoint, orthodox church, orthodox monastery; fortress is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Koronisia - Known for beach, island, lagoon, marina, nature, wildlife

Lamia - Known for castle

Larissa - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site; ancient theatre is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Livadeia - Known for castle, medieval old town, river, waterfall

Messene - Known for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, landmark, museum, viewpoint; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Mesolongi (Messolonghi) - Known for beach, coastal town, lake, landmark, promenade, wildlife

Meteora - Known for landmark, nature, viewpoint, orthodox monastery; monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Methoni - Known for beach, castle, coastal town, viewpoint; castle is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Metsovo - Known for architecture, mountain town, museum, viewpoint, winery

Monemvasia - Known for ancient settlement, beach, coastal town, hiking pass, island, medieval old town, viewpoint, orthodox church

Monodendri - Known for hiking pass, mountain town, museum, scenic road, sightseeing, viewpoint, orthodox church, orthodox monastery; Zagori cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Mycenae - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, viewpoint; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Mystras - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, viewpoint, orthodox monastery; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Nafpaktos - Known for beach, castle, coastal town, marina, monument, museum, promenade, viewpoint

Nafplio - Known for castle, coastal town, fortified town, fortress, historical center, marina, monument, museum, promenade, viewpoint; fortress is a UNESCO Tentative List Site; castle is a UNESCO Tentative List Site; fortified town is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Oiniadai (Oeniadae) - Known for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, walls; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Olympia - Known for archaeological site, museum; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Palace of Nestor - Known for archaeological site, architecture, landmark

Parga - Known for beach, castle, coastal town, promenade

Patras - Known for archaeological site, castle, coastal town, museum, promenade, seaport, viewpoint, winery, orthodox cathedral

Porto Kagio - Known for beach, coastal town, marina, viewpoint

Preveza - Known for castle, coastal town, marina, museum, seaport

Pylos - Known for beach, bridge, castle, coastal town, fortress, marina, venetian empire, wildlife

Rio - Known for beach, bridge, coastal town, fortress, seaport, viewpoint

Sparta - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site

Thermopylae - Known for landmark, monument

Trikala - Known for castle, park

Volos - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, beach, coastal town, marina, museum, nature, seaport

Western Thrace - Known for beach, forest, lake, landmark, nature, park, river

Last reviewed: 5 March 2025

Bassae description

Bassae is an archaeological site in Oichalia, a municipality in the northeastern part of Messenia, Greece. In classical antiquity, it was part of Arcadia. The site lies near the village of Skliros, northeast of Figaleia, south of Andritsaina, and west of Megalopolis.

The site is famous for the well-preserved mid- to late-5th century BC Temple of Apollo Epicurius. This temple is one of the most studied ancient Greek temples due to its multitude of unusual features. Bassae was the first Greek site to be inscribed on the World Heritage List, in 1986.

The Temple of Apollo Epicurius was built between 450 BC and 400 BC and sits at an elevation of 1,131 meters above sea level on the slopes of Kotylion Mountain. It was dedicated to Apollo Epikourios, meaning ＂Apollo the helper,＂ and was supposedly designed by Iktinos, the architect of the Parthenon in Athens.

The temple is remarkable for its unique architectural features. It combines the Archaic style with the serenity of the Doric style and includes some daring innovations such as the use of Ionic and Corinthian orders for a Doric edifice. The temple also exhibits a number of bold and innovative architectural designs that mark a turning point in the development of temple-building.

The temple's remoteness has contributed to its preservation. Unlike other, more accessible temples that were damaged or destroyed by war or converted to Christian uses, the Temple of Apollo escaped both these fates. Additionally, its distance from major metropolitan areas has minimized the impact of acid rain, which can quickly dissolve limestone and damage marble carvings.

Bassae is an interesting destination for tourists due to its historical significance and well-preserved architecture. The temple is one of the best-preserved monuments of classical antiquity and an evocative and poignant testament to classical Greek architecture. Visitors can approach the site from Ilia, after an enchanting journey along the banks of the river Neda, or from Tripoli and Megalopolis.

The temple's unique features, its historical importance, and its picturesque location make it a fascinating destination for those interested in ancient Greek history and architecture. The site's remote location has helped preserve its original charm, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the rich cultural heritage of Greece.

Bassae related tours

We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Bassae during multi-day private car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Bassae.

We have developed several private tours that visiting beautiful Bassae. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. We charge nothing for develop a custom itinerary. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.

Travelling Greece: mainland extended tour, part 1/2 Touring Greece UNESCO sites, villages, castles, monasteries, archaeological places. all seasons tour 23 days Price from € 7,751 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Athens, Greece tour finishes in: Athens, Greece tour duration: 23 days (22 nights) tour countries: Greece tour destinations: Acrocorinth, Ancient Corinth, Argos, Bassae, Corinth canal, Diakopto, Elonas, Epidaurus, Foinikounta, Gytheio, Kalamata, Kalavryta, Kardamyli, Koroni, Kosmas, Loutraki, Megalopolis, Messene, Methoni, Monemvasia, Mycenae, Mystras, Nafplio, Nemea, Olympia, Palace of Nestor, Palaia Epidavros, Patras, Plaka, Porto Kagio, Pylos, Rio, Sparta, Tainaro, Tiryns, Tolo, Vathia This 23 days tour is part 1 of extended touring across Greece mainland, focused on famous Peloponnese peninsula. The tour is intended for people who would like get to know deeply the history and current style of life in Greece. Do you want to walk ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization? Do you want to feel the touch of Greece? Would you like to feel Greek atmosphere in towns and villages, castles and fortresses, museums and tavernas? The main idea of this tour is visiting together with famous UNESCO attractions also off the beaten patch places of Greece, some of them are hard to reach, some of them are remote, and some are cannot be visited with large bus at all. This tour can be extended for few days to spend a few days in Athens, to visit Athens attractions and get to know this famous city and places around. Ask us for that!

Off-season 26 days tour Greece UNESCO sites from Igoumenitsa. Ancient towns, monasteries, castles. Explore main UNESCO sites of Greece mainland and Peloponnese. off-season only tour 26 days Price from € 8,163 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Igoumenitsa, Greece tour finishes in: Igoumenitsa, Greece tour duration: 26 days (25 nights) tour countries: Greece tour destinations: Aigai, Arachova, Argos, Arta, Bassae, Corinth, Delphi, Dodoni, Epidaurus, Hosios Loukas, Ioannina, Kalamata, Lamia, Larissa, Livadeia, Loutraki, Mesolongi, Messene, Meteora, Methoni, Metsovo, Monemvasia, Mycenae, Mystras, Nafpaktos, Nafplio, Nicopolis, Oiniadai, Olympia, Parga, Patras, Pylos, Rio, Sparta, Thermopylae, Tiryns Off-season discovery 26 days (25 nights) round tour from Igoumenitsa around Peloponnese and Greece mainland. The tour is focused on UNESCO World Heritage list sites and on the UNESCO Tentative List sites. We will visit castles and fortresses, ancient towns and monasteries, beaches and mountain towns. The tour will visit Parga castle, we will walk in ancient city Nicopolis (UNESCO Tentative List), we will enjoy Arta museum, see Mesolongi sea lake, climb on steps of Nafpaktos castle and touch the statue of Cervantes, take an images of longest bridge of the fully suspended type between towns Rio and Antirrio. In the region of Peloponnese, we will walk in Patras fortress and pray in St Andrew cathedral, walk in site of Olympic Games Ancient Olympia (UNESCO World Heritage), walk the steps of old fortresses in Pylos and Methoni, explore archaeological site Messene (UNESCO Tentative List), visit famous Sparta and medieval fortified town Mystras (UNESCO World Heritage), touch stones of ancient civilization in Mycenae, wonder on Corinth canal, visit old Hosios Loukas UNESCO monastery, ask Delphi oracle (UNESCO World Heritage) and see the place of the feat of Leonidas, visit unique UNESCO complex of monasteries in Meteora, walk over Aegae archaeological place (UNESCO World Heritage), and on the way back see mountain town Metsovo with famous winery, ancient Ioannina castle and Dodoni archaeological site included in UNESCO Tentative List.

Greece off-season UNESCO places tour 27 days from Athens. Visit most Greece mainland UNESCO and tentative list places. off-season only tour 27 days Price from € 9,319 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Athens, Greece tour finishes in: Athens, Greece tour duration: 27 days (26 nights) tour countries: Greece tour destinations: Aigai, Arachova, Argos, Bassae, Corinth, Delphi, Dion, Dodoni, Epidaurus, Hosios Loukas, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kardamyli, Litochoro, Livadeia, Loutraki, Messene, Meteora, Methoni, Monemvasia, Mycenae, Mystras, Nafpaktos, Nafplio, Olympia, Patras, Pylos, Rio, Sparta, Thermopylae, Thessaloniki, Tiryns, Trikala This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list. During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.

Greece off-season UNESCO places tour 29 days from Athens. Visit most Greece mainland UNESCO and tentative list places. off-season only tour 29 days Price from € 10,043 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Athens, Greece tour finishes in: Athens, Greece tour duration: 29 days (28 nights) tour countries: Greece tour destinations: Aigai, Argos, Arta, Bassae, Corinth, Delphi, Dodoni, Epidaurus, Hosios Loukas, Ioannina, Kalamata, Koroni, Larissa, Livadeia, Mesolongi, Messene, Meteora, Methoni, Metsovo, Monemvasia, Mycenae, Mystras, Nafpaktos, Nafplio, Olympia, Parga, Patras, Porto Kagio, Preveza, Pylos, Rio, Sounion, Sparta, Thermopylae, Trikala, Volos This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list. During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.