Demre / Myra
Grab des Heiligen Nikolaus im byzantinischen Myra aus dem 5. Jahrhundert
Warum dieses Ziel wichtig ist
Der Heilige Nikolaus von Myra (ca. 270–343 n. Chr.), geboren im nahegelegenen Patara, diente als Bischof von Myra und nahm am Ersten Konzil von Nikaia (325) teil. Für die östlich-orthodoxen Christen ist er Hagios Nikolaos, der Wundertäter, einer der meistverehrten Heiligen überhaupt.
Für Katholiken wurden seine Reliquien am 9. Mai 1087 nach Bari gebracht und befinden sich dort bis heute in der Basilika di San Nicola. Kleinere Fragmente liegen in Venedig und im Archäologischen Museum Antalya.
Heute zieht Demre – ein kleines, agrarisch geprägtes Städtchen, umgeben von Lykischen Ruinen – Pilger aller Konfessionen an. Im Jahr 2024 wurde unter der Kirche ein versiegelter Sarkophag und eine Kapelle aus dem 13. Jahrhundert entdeckt.
Historischer Hintergrund
Myra was one of the six leading cities of the Lycian League, a federal union of 23 cities that flourished from the 3rd century BC. By the 4th century AD it had become the seat of a Christian bishopric, and its most famous bishop, Nicholas, attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The city's prosperity continued through the Byzantine period, evidenced by the 5th-century basilica built over Nicholas's tomb and the extensive rock-cut necropolis.
The translation of Nicholas's relics to Bari in 1087 marked a turning point. As Seljuk forces advanced into Anatolia, 62 Bari sailors seized approximately 75 percent of the saint's remains and carried them to Italy, where Pope Urban II consecrated the crypt in 1089. The remaining fragments were taken by Venetian Crusaders around 1099 to San Nicolo del Lido. Despite the empty tomb, Demre continued to attract Orthodox pilgrims, and the church remained a place of veneration through the Ottoman period.
The 2024 archaeological discovery of a sealed limestone sarcophagus and a 13th-century chapel beneath the church floor has reignited scholarly debate about whether the Bari sailors took the correct remains — or whether the primary tomb was never fully emptied. The Antalya Directorate of Archaeology continues conservation work, and the find has not yet been opened publicly.
Wichtigste Sehenswürdigkeiten
Church of Saint Nicholas
5th-century Byzantine basilica with sunken nave, broken sarcophagus and opus sectile floors. 2024 discovery of a sealed sarcophagus and 13th-century chapel beneath the church.
Myra Ancient City
Lycian rock-cut tombs and a 10,000-seat Roman theatre on a single dramatic cliff face.
Andriake / Lycian Civilizations Museum
The ancient port of Myra where Paul changed ships en route to Rome (Acts 27:5-6).
Kekova sunken city
Byzantine ruins partly submerged after a 2nd-century earthquake; standard glass-bottom boat trip from Ucagiz.
Demre Santa statue
Town-centre bronze of Saint Nicholas with children.
Beste Reisezeit
April–Mai und September–Oktober (22–28°C). Am 6. Dezember orthodoxe Göttliche Liturgie. Juli–August meiden.
Wichtige Feiertage
- December 6 - Feast of Saint Nicholas (Orthodox liturgy at the church)
Anreise
Flughafen Antalya (AYT), 150 km / 2,5 Stunden über die Küstenstraße D400. Direktbusse vom Antalya otogar fahren täglich nach Demre.
Wetter nach Monat
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°C | 6°C | High | Low |
| Feb | 16°C | 7°C | High | Low |
| Mar | 18°C | 8°C | Medium | Low |
| Apr | 22°C | 11°C | Low | Medium |
| May | 26°C | 15°C | Low | Medium |
| Jun | 31°C | 19°C | Very Low | Medium |
| Jul | 34°C | 22°C | Very Low | High |
| Aug | 34°C | 22°C | Very Low | High |
| Sep | 31°C | 19°C | Low | Medium |
| Oct | 26°C | 15°C | Medium | Medium |
| Nov | 21°C | 11°C | High | Low |
| Dec | 17°C | 8°C | High | High (Dec 6 feast) |
Unterkunft
Demre bietet einfache, authentische Pensionen. Kaş (40 km östlich) ist ein Boutique-Hotel-Hafen. Kalkan (45 km westlich) gehobener Stil. Kekova-Bucht am abgelegensten.
| Tier | Examples | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Demre town guesthouses, family-run pansiyons | 25-50 EUR/night | Pilgrims on a budget, authentic local experience |
| Mid-Range | Kas boutique hotels (40 km), Kalkan harbour hotels (45 km) | 60-120 EUR/night | Comfortable base with restaurant choice |
| Premium | Kalkan villa rentals, Kekova bay exclusive resorts | 150-400 EUR/night | Luxury pilgrimage with sea views and privacy |
Touren und Erlebnisse
Tagestouren von Antalya, Kemer oder Kaş kombinieren Kirche, Myra-Ruinen und eine Kekova-Bootsfahrt (60–90 EUR). Mehrtägige Biblische Türkei-Touren und Pilgerreisepakete für den 6. Dezember ebenfalls buchbar.
Partner accommodation
Alkan Apart Demre
A full-service apart-hotel in the heart of Demre town, steps from the Church of Saint Nicholas and within easy reach of the Myra rock-tombs and Andriake harbour.
Full kitchen · Free parking · Free Wi-Fi · Families & groups welcome
Gökyazı, İlkokul 3. Sokak, 07570 Demre/Antalya
Practical information
- Hours
- 08:30–19:00 April–Oktober; 08:30–17:00 November–März.
- Fees
- Nikolauskirche ca. 17 EUR / 400 TL; Myra ca. 13 EUR / 400 TL. Türkischer Museumspass akzeptiert. Preise 2026 – auf muze.gov.tr prüfen.
- Dress code
- Bescheidene Kleidung; Schultern und Knie in der Kirche bedecken. Kein Blitzlicht.
- Accessibility
- Rampe am Kircheneingang; weitgehend ebenerdige Anlage. Myra-Ruinen haben unebene Treppen.
- Transport
- Direkter Fernbus vom Antalya otogar (~2,5 Std.) oder Mietwagen entlang der D400.
Pilgertipps
💡 Pilgertipps
- Arrive at the Church of Saint Nicholas before 09:00 to avoid tour bus crowds, especially in peak season.
- Combine Demre with a Kekova boat trip — the glass-bottom boats reveal submerged Byzantine ruins and the trip includes a seafood lunch on board.
- Bring a small candle to light at the church; the candle stand is in the narthex and donations support the site's upkeep.
- If visiting on December 6, arrive the night before — the Orthodox Divine Liturgy begins before sunrise and space inside the sunken nave is extremely limited.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes with grip — the Myra rock tombs involve uneven stone steps and the theatre has steep seating.
- Carry Turkish lira in cash for smaller sites, local restaurants, and the church donation box — card acceptance is limited outside Kas and Kalkan.
Wussten Sie schon?
ℹ️ Wussten Sie schon?
- The broken sarcophagus in the south aisle of the church is traditionally identified as Nicholas's original tomb — but the 2024 discovery of a sealed sarcophagus beneath the floor has reopened the question of whether the Bari sailors took the correct remains.
- The church's sunken nave is the result of centuries of silt deposition from the Demre River — the original 5th-century floor is approximately 2 metres below the current ground level.
- Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, children, merchants, and repentant thieves — and is venerated by Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Oriental Orthodox Christians alike.
- The Lycian rock-cut tombs above Myra's theatre date from the 4th century BC and were painted in bright red, blue, and gold — traces of pigment are still visible on some facades.
Biblical references
- Acts 27:5-6 — “When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard.”
Empfohlene Lektüre
| Title / Reference | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Acts 27:5-6 | Paul's stop at Myra en route to Rome — the only biblical mention of the city. |
| The Life and Miracles of Saint Nicholas (various hagiographies) | The medieval Greek and Latin lives of the saint, including the grain ships miracle and the three dowries. |
| Charles W. Jones, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Bari, and Manhattan (1978) | The definitive scholarly study of the Nicholas cult and the 1087 translation. |
| Turkish Ministry of Culture — Myra-Andriake | Official site for current excavation updates, including the 2024 sarcophagus discovery. |
Nearby destinations to combine
Patara
Birthplace of Saint Nicholas and Lycian federal capital
70 km east — Birthplace of Saint Nicholas and Lycian federal capital
Ephesus
House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John and the First Church of Revelation
350 km northwest — House of the Virgin Mary and Basilica of St John
Cappadocia
Rock-hewn churches of the Cappadocian Fathers
650 km northeast — Rock-hewn churches of the Cappadocian Fathers
Teil dieser Routen
- Footsteps of Saint Paul — Tarsus to Rome - the missionary journeys of the Apostle
- Nicholas of Myra — Patara - Demre - Bari: the millennium pilgrimage of Saint Nicholas
Partner accommodation
Alkan Apart Demre
A full-service apart-hotel in the heart of Demre town, steps from the Church of Saint Nicholas and within easy reach of the Myra rock-tombs and Andriake harbour.
Full kitchen · Free parking · Free Wi-Fi · Families & groups welcome
Gökyazı, İlkokul 3. Sokak, 07570 Demre/Antalya
Frequently asked questions
Names in other languages
| Turkish | Demre / Noel Baba Kilisesi |
|---|---|
| Greek | Mura / Agios Nikolaos |
| German | Myra / Nikolauskirche |
| Russian | Miry Likiyskie / Tserkov Svyatogo Nikolaya |
| French | Myre / Eglise Saint-Nicolas |
| Italian | Mira / San Nicola |