Discover Staro Nagorichane

• Kokino is located on the rocky hill of Tatichev Kamen at an altitude of 1,013 meters.
• The observatory’s two platforms are separated by an elevation difference of 19 meters.
• The frescoes in the Church of St. George in Staro Nagorichane date from 1318.
• The Zebrnjak ossuary monument in Mlado Nagorichane commemorates the victims of the 1912 Battle of Kumanovo.
• The thermal water at the Strnovac Geothermal Bathing Complex has a temperature of 39 to 40 °C.

The Church of St. George in Staro Nagorichane was renovated in 1313 by Serbian King Stefan II. Its frescoes were created in 1318 by the Thessalonian painters Mihailo Astrapa and Evtihij. The church holds a prominent place in the history of medieval Byzantine art in Macedonia. Directly beside it, in the center of Staro Nagorichane, is the hermit’s cave of Saint Prohor Pcinjski.

Other churches offer different historical perspectives. The church of the Karpino Monastery in Suv Orah dates from 1592. The monastery was an important cultural and literary center with an extensive library. In Mlado Nagorichane, the Church of St. George the Victorious is a cultural monument from the 16th century. The Church of St. Petka there has no eastern apse; this is considered the only example of its kind in Žegligovo. Its frescoes and architecture were conserved in 2003.

The Zabel Monastery is another site with an artistic history: its icons were created in 1857 by Dico the icon painter and Zafir Vasilević. Those particularly interested in the history of the Macedonian state will find a different focus at the ASNOM Memorial Center in Pelince. It is dedicated to the first ASNOM meeting, held on August 2, 1944. The center includes an ASNOM Museum, a memorial room displaying documents on the formation of the Macedonian state, and a replica of the room in Prohor Pcinjski Monastery where the first session took place.

The Kokino observatory is arranged across two platforms. Two markers were used to measure the length of lunar months and create a calendar based on a periodic cycle of 19 lunar years. Kokino is listed as a cultural property on North Macedonia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Its location on Tatichev Kamen also gives it a distinctive setting at an altitude of 1,013 meters.

Kokino is accessible by a paved road; the final 500 meters to the observatory must be covered on foot. Factor in this walk when deciding whether to visit. This figure refers to the distance to the observatory, not the walking time.

The Zebrnjak ossuary monument in Mlado Nagorichane commemorates those who died in 1912 at the site of the Battle of Kumanovo during the First Balkan War. The monument was built in 1937 from gray basalt and is considered unique in the Balkans for its architecture. Kostoperska Karpa, a striking basalt rock of volcanic origin near Mlado Nagorichane, offers a geological and archaeological perspective: a settlement existed at the site from the Copper Age, and the place was later resettled in Roman times.

Another point of interest is the Strnovac Geothermal Bathing Complex in the village of Strnovac. It is located about 2,800 meters from the center of the Staro Nagorichane municipality. The final 500 meters of the access road are unpaved. Keep this road information in mind alongside the stated water temperature of 39 to 40 °C when considering a visit.

These destinations appeal to different interests: Kokino combines the history of astronomical calendars with a specific walk, while churches, monasteries, and memorial sites bring historical art and remembrance to the fore. You can also include Vojnik as a secondary destination in your wider travel plans. For comparison with other destinations, you can also explore Tetovo, Municipality of Pehchevo, Mogila, Municipality of Novo Selo, Qark Korça, Negotino, and Municipality of Kriva Palanka.

How is the Kokino observatory arranged?

It consists of two platforms separated by an elevation difference of 19 meters. Two markers were used to measure lunar months and for a calendar cycle of 19 lunar years.

How much of the way to the Kokino observatory must you walk?

The final 500 meters to the observatory must be covered on foot. The rest of the access route is on a paved road.

What is the temperature of the thermal water in Strnovac?

The thermal water at the Strnovac Geothermal Bathing Complex has a temperature of 39 to 40 °C. The complex is about 2,800 meters from the municipal center; the final 500 meters of the access road are unpaved.

For the broader travel overview: Macedonia.