The renovated old Church of the Dormition of the Virgin, built in 1831, houses the Museum of Byzantine Icon Painting in Drosato. It displays reproductions of icons from monasteries on Mount Athos. The combination of church architecture and icon art gives the site a clear cultural focus; at the same time, the church is an important religious and cultural place for the local community.

Church and Icon Museum in Drosato

The Church of the Dormition of the Virgin is located in the village of Drosato, in the Kilkis area. The museum has been operating since 2002. Its exhibition theme is clearly defined: visitors can see reproductions of icons from monasteries on Mount Athos. The two dates refer to different things: 1831 marks the construction of the church, while 2002 marks the start of the museum’s operations. If you are planning a visit, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

For travellers interested in religious architectural history and icon painting, this combination is specific: the church building gives the local cultural theme an architectural setting, while the reproductions identify the focus of the exhibition. The church’s importance to the local community adds its religious and cultural role in the village to these two aspects.

More Nature and Museum Highlights in Kilkis

The Kilkis destination offers further nature and museum highlights. The Lake Doirani Museum is open daily from 08:00 to 14:00 for visits and tours by school groups, and is also available to residents and visitors to the municipality. Check the opening hours again before travelling.

Lake Doirani is a wetland that provides a habitat or stopover for numerous resident and migratory birds. Dense reeds and waterside vegetation define the landscape. The focus here is therefore on scenery and birdlife, unlike the cultural emphasis in Drosato.

Visitors can follow the lakeside path from the village of Doirani to the Forest of a Thousand Trees. The Forest of Mouries, also known as the Forest of a Thousand Trees, is designated a natural monument and covers 590 stremmata. The route and the forest offer different points of reference: the path is defined by its starting point and destination, while the designation and area describe the forest.

Pikrolimni offers a further contrast: the shallow lake lies beside the village of the same name and usually dries up in summer. Its clay soil contains sulfur compounds and nitrates; it is credited with healing and cosmetic properties. The landscapes in Kilkis therefore differ seasonally too: Pikrolimni usually dries up in summer, while Lake Doirani is described as a wetland with reeds, waterside vegetation and birdlife.

The options differ considerably depending on your interests: Drosato is associated with its church and icon painting, the Lake Doirani Museum offers a cultural attraction with daily visiting hours, and the lakes and waterside landscapes in Kilkis provide nature-related highlights. This lets you decide whether architectural history and art, birdlife, a walking destination or the seasonal character of a shallow lake should shape your stay most.

Discover more destinations: Stathmos Mourion, Axioupoli, Kilkis, Pikrolimni, Pontokerasia, Goumenissa, Eptálofos, Agios Markos

Go to the main travel overview: Kilkis.