Kebran Gabriel

Lake Tana & its Monasteries

LoginSave

Though the 17th-century church at Kebran Gabriel is beautiful, it’s no longer open to the public and the museums (one each for men and women) have nothing you won’t see elsewhere. It’s 20 minutes away from Bahir Dar by boat, directly on the way to Zege Peninsula, which is why guides encourage people to stop here. The tiny treasury has a few old books and pictures.

The small island next door hosts the completely modern and, frankly, uninteresting Entos Eyesu, which offers the novelty of monks and nuns living together.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Ura Kidane Meret monastery, Lake Tana, Amhara, Ethiopia

    Ura Kidane Meret

    4.2 MILES

    The Zege Peninsula’s largest and most famous monastery is hardly the most attractive on the outside, but its maqdas (inner sanctuary) is beautifully…

  • A man entering the grass and moss covered bastion of the island monastery, Narga Selassie, on Lake Tana

    Narga Selassie

    19.57 MILES

    Set in the middle of the lake on Dek Island, Narga Selassie is peaceful, atmospheric and little visited. Built in the mid-18th century, it has a Gonderian…

  • Dega Estefanos

    Dega Estefanos

    17.1 MILES

    One of the lake’s most sacred monasteries, Dega Estefanos (men only) was rebuilt in the mid-19th century and though the church isn’t too interesting, it…

  • Bete Selassie

    Bete Selassie

    4.61 MILES

    Bete Selassie (men only) is a 30- to 45-minute walk inland from the Lake Tana shore at Zege Peninsula. The simple exterior of the church (rebuilt in 1858)…

  • Outlet of the Blue Nile

    Outlet of the Blue Nile

    4.78 MILES

    The Blue Nile outlet, a 20-minute boat ride east of Bahir Dar, has far greater geographical significance than it does natural beauty, although there's…

  • Azuwa Maryam

    Azuwa Maryam

    4.33 MILES

    The thatch roof atop the church at Azuwa Maryam helps make it the best-looking church on Zege (currently Bete Maryam is the only other church with thatch)…

  • Debre Maryam

    Debre Maryam

    2.9 MILES

    The original 14th-century (some say 12th-century) church at Debre Maryam was rebuilt by Tewodros in the 19th century. It’s unattractive both outside and…

  • Tekla Haimanot

    Tekla Haimanot

    3.8 MILES

    On top of the Zege Peninsula’s highest point, 10 minutes' walk from Bete Selassie, the church at Tekla Haimanot is similar but smaller than Bete Selassie…

View more attractions

Nearby Lake Tana & its Monasteries attractions

1. Entos Eyesu

0.31 MILES

The small island next door to Kebran Gabriel hosts the completely modern and, frankly, uninteresting Entos Eyesu, which offers the novelty of monks and…

2. Debre Maryam

2.9 MILES

The original 14th-century (some say 12th-century) church at Debre Maryam was rebuilt by Tewodros in the 19th century. It’s unattractive both outside and…

3. Tekla Haimanot

3.8 MILES

On top of the Zege Peninsula’s highest point, 10 minutes' walk from Bete Selassie, the church at Tekla Haimanot is similar but smaller than Bete Selassie…

5. Fish Market

4.03 MILES

There’s a one-table fish market in the mud-hut deacon’s village behind St George’s Church. The catch is brought in by tankwa in the morning and pelicans…

6. St George Church

4.08 MILES

One of the largest churches in Bahir Dar and right next to the water, but it's not a patch on Lake Tana's monasteries.

7. Main Mosque

4.09 MILES

Bahir Dar's largest mosque and an important local landmark.

8. Bete Maryam

4.15 MILES

Founded in the 13th century, Bete Maryam, near the tip of the peninsula, is the oldest monastery on Zege and its attractive church has some excellent…