ST. NICHOLAS' MONASTERY (СВЕТИ МАНАСТИР НИКОЛА)

Nestled in a forest, 750 m above sea level, this Orthodox monastery (Љубански Mанастир/Ljubanski Manastir) is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It was founded in 1337 by a Serbian noblewoman, destroyed in the ^18th century and rebuilt in the ^mid-19th century. Restored in 1998, it now houses a small community of nuns. The visit is especially worthwhile for the icons in the catholicon (main church), made in 1853 by the great painter Dičo Zografos, and for the 5 km trail leading to Mount Svinjski Kamen, at 1,628 m above sea level. The nuns are good advice for this hike.