Kokino, with its ancient observatory, is located on the rocky hill of Tatichev Kamen, 1,013 metres above sea level. Two platforms, separated by a height difference of 19 metres, form its distinctive layout. The astronomical markers also tell of precise observation: two of them were used to measure the length of lunar months and create a calendar based on a periodic cycle of 19 lunar years.
Kokino and its observations of the sky
Kokino is listed as a cultural property on North Macedonia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Inclusion on this list should be distinguished from inscription on the World Heritage List. The site thus combines its archaeological complex with a clearly defined status as proposed cultural heritage.
The final part of the journey is important: Kokino can be reached by a paved road, but the last 500 metres to the observatory must be covered on foot. Check the local road conditions before setting out.
Medieval art and churches
The Church of St George stands in Staro Nagorichane. Serbian King Stefan II had it renovated in 1313; its frescoes date from 1318. They were created by the Thessalonian painters Mihailo Astrapa and Evtihij. The church occupies one of the most significant places in the history of medieval Byzantine art in Macedonia. The hermit’s cave of St Prohor Pcinjski lies immediately beside it, in the centre of Staro Nagorichane.
In Suv Orah, Karpino Monastery tells another chapter of cultural history: it was an important cultural and literary centre with an extensive library. The monastery church dates from 1592. At Zabel Monastery, the icons provide a datable reference: the icon painters Dico and Zafir Vasilević created them in 1857.
Memorial sites and architecture in Mlado Nagorichane
Mlado Nagorichane also offers a range of traces from the past. The Church of St George the Victorious is a 16th-century cultural monument. The Church of St Petka has a distinctive architectural feature: it has no eastern apse, considered the only example of its kind in Žegligovo. Its frescoes and architecture were conserved in 2003.
The Zebrnjak ossuary monument commemorates the victims of the First Balkan War who lost their lives in 1912 at the site of the Battle of Kumanovo. Built in 1937 from grey basalt, it is considered unique in the Balkans for its architecture. The commemoration and the building material are equally part of the monument’s history.
Near Mlado Nagorichane lies Kostoperska Karpa, a striking basalt rock of volcanic origin. A settlement existed at this site from the Copper Age. It was abandoned in the 3rd century BC, and the site was resettled during Roman times. This sequence of periods makes Kostoperska Karpa a further archaeological topic, distinct from the medieval churches and more recent commemorations.
The ASNOM Memorial Centre in Pelince
The ASNOM Memorial Centre in Pelince is a cultural and historical centre as well as a centre for sport and recreation. It is dedicated to the first ASNOM meeting, held on 2 August 1944. The centre includes the ASNOM Museum and a replica of the room in Prohor Pcinjski Monastery where the first ASNOM session took place. A memorial room displays documents on the formation of the Macedonian state. Together, these elements connect the historic meeting with its commemoration at the centre.
Thermal waters in Strnovac
Another natural attraction awaits at the Strnovac geothermal bathing complex: the thermal water has a temperature of 39 to 40 °C. The complex is in the village of Strnovac, about 2,800 metres from the centre of the Municipality of Staro Nagorichane. The last 500 metres of the access road are unpaved. If you include this place in your travel plans, take this access information into account and check the road conditions before setting out.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Vojnik, Delchevo, Mavrovo and Rostuša, Kavadarci, Mogila, Municipality of Jegunovce, Resen, Radovish.
Go to the main travel overview: Macedonia.
