The most beautiful natural sites to discover Eastern Macedonia

This rocky mass of volcanic origin (Цоцев Камен, pronounced "tsotsev kamen") dominates the Kriva Valley at 481 m above sea level. Consisting of two hills facing each other, it has strange natural cavities and traces of human presence (red pigments, holes in the rock ...) from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. According to some authors, the site was an astronomical observatory, a place of sacrifice... or a shepherds' shelter. But no serious study has yet been conducted. The place remains nevertheless intriguing and superb at sunset.

Created in 2021, this protected area (Заштитен Предел Малешево/Zaštiten Predel Maleševo) covers 115 ^km2 along the Bulgarian border, between the municipalities of Berovo, Pehčevo and Delčevo. Managed by the national forestry office and the private company Pharmachem, it is home to oak and beech forests. However, in the face of opposition from local forestry companies, tourist facilities have been slow to develop. However, the Spikovski waterfalls are within easy reach.

Here the small Baba River makes a series of jumps to form a wide waterfall 19 m high (Колешински Водопад/Kolešinski Vodopad). Fitted out with picnic tables, the site is located under Mount Beles, 610 m above sea level, near Kolešino. Often frozen in winter, the waterfall is impressive in spring, when the Baba River flows in a torrent. For your information, the village of Kolešino (600 inhabitants) is presented as a model of inter-religious tolerance with Orthodox, four communities of Protestants and another of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Created in 2020, this protected area (Заштитен Предел Осоговски Планини/Zaštiten Predel Osogovski Planini) covers 488 ^km2 between Kriva Palanka, Kratovo and Kočani. Managed by the private company Pharmachem, it is home to extensive forest areas (beech, oak, elm, hornbeam, ash, hazel) and two protected animals: the lanner falcon(Falco biarmicus) and an endemic species of newt. From Kriva Palanka, a road leads to the Stanecki waterfalls and the small Kalin Kamen lake.

This peak (Лисец, pronounced "lilies") reaches 1,754 m in altitude. It is the highest point of the small Plačkovica massif, which extends 34 km in length between the Radoviš region in the south and Kočani in the northwest. The various peaks and the Zrnovska Valley, which bisects the massif, are popular for their hiking routes. Several accommodations are available there, including the Bel Kamen Hotel. About 5 km northwest of it is a building used as a hospital by partisans during World War II.

This artificial lake of 4.5 ^km2 (Езеро Мантово/Ezero Mantavo) is a popular destination for local residents. Some of them have a second home there. There are also fishermen and two restaurants. The lake was created in 1978 on the Kriva Lakavica River for the water needs of the Bučim mine and to irrigate nearby farms. To the north, near the dam, the village of Dolna Vrachtica/Долна Враштиц is deserted. To the southeast, the village of Gabrevci/Габревци (220 inhabitants) is home to one last pottery workshop.

This river (Кратовска Река) originates in the Osogovo massif and receives three streams in the center of Kratovo. Here, its steep banks are developed for walking and four Ottoman bridges span it. Of particular note is the Čaršiski ("Tsar's") bridge erected in 1804 in honor of the sultan opposite the clock tower. Downstream, next to the old prison and museum, the Grofčanski Bridge bears the name of the family that built it around 1720. The Kratovska then joins the Kriva (a tributary of the Vardar), 9 km to the west, at the hamlet of Ketenovo.

This amazing geological site (Камени Кукли/Kameni Kukli) evokes, in a miniature version, the Turkish valley of Göreme, in Cappadocia. It covers about 400^m2 and owes its name to the hundred and twenty or so rock columns that stand here in a small valley on the right bank of the Kriva River. Most of these "stone dolls" are no more than 5 m high, but a group of about fifteen columns reaches at least 10 m high. According to one legend, they are petrified soldiers while crossing a burning forest. Another version wants that these columns are inhabitants of the region changed into stone while they took part in a marriage between two lovers of rival villages. It is true that some of the shapes evoke human or animal bodies. The scientific reality is that they are "fairy chimneys": columns of volcanic deposits rather friable, whose more resistant top ensured the maintenance against erosion. Here, the phenomenon occurred over a period of about 100,000 years with volcanic rocks (andesite and ignimbrite) that are themselves at least 30 million years old. The site is relatively clean and well maintained. Along the trail are picnic tables and a gift store. On the other side of the parking lot is a rather nice traditional restaurant, Restoran Etno Kuklica (facebook.com/KuklicaEtno) with an outdoor pool and a large garden.

This massif is about 60 km long and starts south of Strumica and extends eastward into Greece and Bulgaria. It is called Belasica/Беласица in Macedonian and Bulgarian and Belles/Μπέλλες in Greek. At the junction of the three countries is Mount Tumba, at 1,881 m above sea level, about 26 km southeast of Strumica as the crow flies. But the highest point is Mount Kerkini/Radomir, at 2,031 m above sea level, a little further east, on the Greek-Bulgarian border. In Northern Macedonia, the massif separates the region of Strumica from the lake Dojran. A path allows to connect the two.

This resort area (Tуристичка Населба Абланица/Turistička Naselba Ablanica) lies in a clearing around the Bregalnica River, 900 m above sea level. There is a modern chapel dedicated to St. Petka and about 100 villas and cottages, some of which are rented. It is the starting point of several trails (on foot or by mountain bike). One of them leads to the center of Berovo (3 km). Another one follows the Bregalnica from its source to the lake of Berovo (8 km).

Established in 2012, this ministation (Ски-Центар Пониква) is located south of Osogovo. It extends from 1,300 to 1,650 m above sea level with a chairlift, a tug, 1.3 km of slopes, accommodation and a rental equipment company. The ski conditions are uncertain (the snow cannons have been sabotaged) and, when there is snow, it is crowded on weekends. On the other hand, it is nice in summer for hiking. There is even an airfield using the Kočani road as a runway.

This 4.2 ^km2 artificial lake (Езеро Калиманци) was created on the Bregalnica River in 1969 to irrigate the vast rice fields of the Kočani region and to power a small power plant near the dam to the south. Located at 510 m above sea level, it is 14 km long and about 300 m wide. It is not developed in any way, but one can swim in it in summer (the water is 20 °C then) on the way to Delčevo. In the northern part, the town of Makedonska Kamenica/Македонска Каменица (about 4,000 inhabitants) offers beautiful views of the lake.

This strange stone wall (Ѓаволски Ѕид/Gjavolski Zid) is a natural geological formation located at 235 m above sea level, in the small Bogoslovec massif, above the Bregalnica River. Over a length of 300-400 m, limestone and sandstone blocks rise up to form a vertical wall which, in its most impressive part, is 5 m high and 2.5 m wide. This phenomenon is due to various factors, including erosion. The site is associated with many legends and theories: fortress of Alexander the Great, intervention of extraterrestrials..

This 57 ha artificial lake (Беровско Езеро) was created in 1970 with the construction of a 60 m high dam on the small Klepaska River. Located at 990 m above sea level and surrounded by beech and pine forests, it is highly developed in the northern part with several roads and many accommodations including three hotels (Aurora, Bistra and VIP Berovo) and rental villas. Some owners rent or lend mountain bikes that allow you to go around the lake. On the way, we meet small producers offering their honey and mountain herbs.

This 39.5 m high waterfall (Смоларски Водопад/Smolarski Vodopad) is located near the village of Smolari (300 inhabitants), 580 m above sea level, along Mount Beles. This is the Smolarska River, which then joins the Strumica. The place is equipped with a platform and a small market in summer. This is also where the 13.4 km long trail from Smolari to Mount Tumba (1,881 m above sea level), at the junction of Northern Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece, runs. The route takes two days with overnight stay at the Šarena Češma/Шарена Чешма hut.