Details: Written by: Automater; Category: 360 Tourism

Picturesque gorge with medieval monasteries, also offering boating, hiking with cave exploration.

Link Location Gps ← Find Best directions

Gps Coordinates / 41.9498297,21.3000717

Shrouded Medieval Monasteries Canyon Matka VR Macedonia

W8X2+W2P Dolna Matka, North Macedonia

The canyon area is home to several historic churches and monasteries. St. Andrew's Monastery, founded around 1388 by Prince Marko's brother Andrew, is situated in the gorge of the Treska River.

According to an inscription on the church, someone named Milica found the church in poor condition and without a roof in 1497.

Matka Monastery, or Monastery of the Holy Mother of God, built in the 14th century. She replaced the roof, added new frescoes, built a portico and created a vineyard.

Link Location Gps 41.9502275

Gps Coordinates / 41.9502275,21.3005426

The monastery was deserted in the 18th century. An archmonk found the church roofless in 1816 and attempted to revive it, though it was again deserted in 1897. The monastery offers a unique view high above the canyon.

St. Nicholas Monastery is located on a cliff above the canyon and St. Andrew's Monastery. The date of construction of the church is unknown.

The iconstasis of the church was painted in 1645, while the western side was frescoed in 1630.

Is located on the left bank of the Treska. The first mention of it was in the 17th century, during Ottoman rule.

Link Location Gps / Gps Link 41.947045 / Gps Link 41.9504422 / Gps Link 41.950264

Gps Coordinates / 41.947045,21.3013017 / 41.9504422,21.2990999 / 41.950264,21.2993431

Matka Canyon is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, some of which are unique to the area. Roughly 20% of the plant life found at Matka is endemic and only found here.

Link Location Gps / Gps Link -000.000 / Gps Link 41.9501762 / Gps Link 41.9500607

Gps Coordinates / 41.9501648,21.2992001 / 41.9501762,21.2997742 / 41.9500607,21.2996528

Matka (Macedonian:- Матка, meaning womb) is a canyon located west of central Skopje, North Macedonia. Covering roughly 5,000 hectares, Matka is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in North Macedonia and is home to several medieval monasteries.

20% of the plant life only found here.

Link Location Gps / Gps Link 41.95031 / Gps Link 41.9493782 / Gps Link 41.9491463

Gps Coordinates / 41.95031,21.2997915 / 41.9493782,21.3000873 / 41.9491463,21.300333

The canyon is also home to 77 indigenous species of butterfly.

Kayaking on the Treska River is a popular activity, as are fishing, hunting, and swimming. The climbing season begins around Easter and ends in November.

Link Location Gps / Gps Link 41.9487228 / Gps Link 41.9485512 / Gps Link -000.000

Gps Coordinates / 41.9487228,21.3005009 / 41.9485512,21.3008804 / 41.94841,21.3008175

The canyon is also home to the most venomous snake in south Europe, the horned viper.

Link Location Gps / Gps Link 41.9392167 / Gps Link 41.93747 / Gps Link 41.9372883

Gps Coordinates / 41.9392167,21.30604 / 41.93747,21.3054967 / 41.9372883,21.3052033

The canyon's caves are home to large populations of bats. The canyon is one of North Macedonia's foremost areas for alpine hiking.

Link Location Gps / Gps Link 41.9337637 / Gps Link 41.9326333 / Gps Link 41.9303609

Gps Coordinates / 41.9337637,21.2959359 / 41.9326333,21.2940042 / 41.9303609,21.2922177

Located on the right bank of the Treska River, Vrelo Cave was listed as one of the top 77 natural sites in the world in the New7Wonders of Nature project.

Link Location Gps / Gps Link 41.9305587 / Gps Link 41.9517693 / Gps Link 41.9517288

Gps Coordinates / 41.9305587,21.2917171 / 41.9517693,21.2996324 / 41.9517288,21.2999401

Vrelo Cave has many stalactites including a large one in the middle of the cave known as the "Pine Cone" due to its shape.

Link Location Gps / Gps Link 41.9514053 / Gps Link 41.947045

Gps Coordinates / 41.9514053,21.2999612 / 41.947045,21.3013017 /

There are two lakes at the end of the cave, with one larger than the other. Due in large part to its proximity to Skopje, Matka Canyon is a popular destination for citizens and tourists.