ZEMEN AND OSOGOVO MONASTERIES

We are a travel agency City Tour and we have been operating since 2002!

HIGHLIGHTS:

-           Visit Zemen Monastery – one of the oldest monasteries in Bulgaria

-           Discover Osogovo Monastery “St. Joackim”, one of the most beautiful monasteries

             in the Republic of North Macedonia

-           Use the opportunity to try local Macedonian barbecues and dishes

-           Taking care of nature, we do eco-friendly tours with CNG and electric cars.

The tour starts at 9.00 from the hotel that you are staying at, in Sofia. First you will visit the  Zemen

Monastery "St. John the Theologian", situated on the left bank of the Struma River, just one kilometer

away from the town of Zemen, Pernik Province, and 75 km southwest of Sofia. The church of “Saint John

the Theologian” in Zemen monastery was built in the 11th century and is one of the oldest monuments of

medieval Bulgarian architecture and art. Fragments from the first layer dated from the 11^th century were

discovered in the right apse, representing the images of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, as well as Saint

Constantine and Saint Helena. The guided visit at the monastery is about 30 minutes.

After this, you will continue to Ossogovo Monastery “St. Joachim”, which is situated 80 km from Zemen

and just 3 km from Kriva Palanka, RNM.  The present monastery has two churches - the old one “Holy

Mother of God”, which was built in the 13^th century, and the new one, St. Joachim Ossogovski – in the

19^th century. The most impressive wall paintings were done by Dimitar Papradishki. It’s unusual to see

frescoes on the outside walls of Orthodox churches and monasteries, but here you will see a very well

-preserved fresco of the Judgement Day theme. In the monastery you will have about 30-minute guided

tour and some free time. After that, you will go to the nearby village where you can have a lunch break

and try traditional local food.

The expected return in Sofia is at 6pm.

PRICE INCLUDES:

•          Private tour
•          English-speaking guide - other languages upon request and availability
•          Trip to Zemen and Osogovo Monasteries
•          Hotel pick up and drop off
•          Transportation with an A/C car with free Wi-Fi

PRICE EXCLUDES:

•          Food and personal expenses
•          Entrance fee – Zemen Monastery (5 BGN)
•          Gratuities (optional)

OTHER INFORMATION:

-          Hotel pick up at 9 am by private car. Please indicate your hotel.  

-          Prices for more than 8 people: on request; bigger groups are subjected to great discounts! 

-          Day trip duration: 10 hours 

-          Please wear comfortable walking shoes

-          Reference code: CT101