Osogovo Monastery

Osogovo Monastery tickets: which one to buy

Osogovo Monastery stands on a forested hill in the Osogovo Mountains, near the town of Kriva Palanka, in north-eastern North Macedonia, close to the Bulgarian border, and entry is free, with donations welcome. It is one of the largest and most important monasteries in the country. Most visitors reach it by car or tour from Skopje, about two hours away, or combine it with a trip to Bulgaria, as it lies on the main road between Skopje and Sofia.

The monastery has guest rooms, where visitors can stay the night, and a restaurant nearby. It is surrounded by forests, with walking paths and views over the mountains. The monastery is active, with monks, and visitors should dress modestly. The monastery hosts the Osogovo art colony, where painters work in summer, and the grounds display works by artists. Guest rooms at the monastery can be booked in advance and are simple but comfortable.

Visiting Osogovo Monastery: what to see

The monastery was founded in the twelfth century and dedicated to Saint Joachim of Osogovo, a hermit who lived in a cave in the area in the eleventh century. The monastery was damaged and rebuilt several times, and its present appearance dates largely from the nineteenth century. The complex includes two churches: the large church of Saint Joachim, built in 1851 by the famous builder Andreja Damjanov, with twelve domes and a porch, decorated with frescoes and a carved iconostasis, and the smaller church of the Holy Virgin, from the fourteenth century, with older frescoes. The monastery's residential buildings, with wooden balconies, surround a courtyard with flowers. A bell tower stands at the entrance.

The monastery's position gives views over the Osogovo Mountains and the valley below. The art colony has left a collection of paintings in the monastery. The large church's frescoes, painted in the nineteenth century, show saints and scenes from the Bible, and its iconostasis is carved with birds and flowers. The older church of the Holy Virgin has fragments of frescoes from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries. The monastery's bell tower rises over the courtyard. The residential wings have been restored, with guest rooms and a dining hall. The monastery's garden has fruit trees. The art colony's paintings are displayed in a gallery. The views from the terraces over the mountains are wide. The monastery's stone walls are decorated with carved crosses.

Osogovo Monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open daily. Summer is warm in the mountains, and spring and autumn are beautiful, with green forests or autumn colours. Winter can bring snow. The feast of Saint Joachim of Osogovo on 29 August brings pilgrims and celebrations. The art colony works in the monastery in summer. Allow about forty-five minutes for the monastery, and stay for lunch at the restaurant, or spend the night in the guest rooms to enjoy the peace of the mountains. Kriva Palanka, a few kilometres away, has cafés and shops, and the road continues to the Bulgarian border crossing at Deve Bair.