Lesnovo Things to Do

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Trails lead through the village of Lesnovo and to the Millstone Caves.

There are 4 trails ranging from 20-40 minutes, see the pictures.

Since everything is really close to each-other, you can also just walk around by yourself of course!

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The former school (now a hostel) also houses a small etno museum.

Entrance was free when we stayed in the hostel.

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This former school building now houses a small Etno Museum and cheap accommodation for people who e.g. visit the Monastery of St Gavril Lesnovski or the yearly art colony.

There are at least two rooms with single person bunk beds, so don't expect a romantic night with your loved one next to you (or you must both be anorexic).

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The Monastery of St Gavril Lesnovski is geographically located east of the road between Kratovo and Probistip, but you have to head for Zletovo and there take the turning for Lesnovo and follow the road up the mountain.

The picture shows a good point to stop for a moment and to enjoy the view.

The panorama from this point is fantastic!

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In the hills surrounding Lesnovo you will find many man-made caves.

These caves were made by many generations of people who were cutting millstones from the rocks.

You will see unfinished millstones everywhere on the walls of the caves.

Trails lead from the village to the caves.

See the link below for more pictures.

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Up in the mountain, south of the village Lesnovo is the Monastery of St Gavril Lesnovski, built in 1341.

The monastery is famous for housing one out of three iconostases made by the famous Macedonian woodcarvers Frckovski and the Filipovski brothers. The other two are found in the church of St Spas in Skopje and in the monastery St Jovan Bigorski in the Mavrovo National Park.

You can still see the mosaic floor of the 11th-century church on whose foundations the current church was built.

On the ceiling of the narthex you can see frescoes of the sun and the moon and 12 animals of people in the sky. Despite they clearly show the zodiac signs, the monk says that they are not designed to depict the zodiac signs.

You cannot enter the monastery if you are dressed inappropriately, but you can borrow trainers and skirts at the entrance to cover yourself.

See the link below for more pictures.

Drive up to the village of Lesnovo, and visit the monastery. The road up winds through breathtaking rock formations and caves. Women may be asked to put on a skirt before being allowed to enter the monastery. If you are wearing jeans and hiking boots, like me, this looks ridiculous....so take the camera away from your husband if you have any pride !!