Matka Canyon, one of the most impressive natural resources in the vicinity of Skopje, is an extraordinary combination of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Created by the Treska River, this majestic canyon is the oldest artificial reservoir in North Macedonia, with the construction of the dam in 1938.

Within the canyon is the speleological park “Jovica Grozdanovski”, named after the tragically deceased mountaineer. The park consists of three caves (Vrelo, Beautiful and Krštana), as well as one underwater cave (Podvrelo).

Interesting Facts

• The canyon is home to more than 77 species of endemic butterflies
• There are 10 caves in the area, the deepest of which is the Vrelo cave with a depth of 330 meters
• There are more than 20 types of medicinal herbs
• The dam is 29 metres high and 64 metres long
• In the vicinity there are remains of Neolithic settlements
• The canyon has been a protected natural monument since 1994
• The water temperature in the lake is constant throughout the year and is about 4–6 degrees Celsius

The best time to visit is from spring to fall, although each time of the year offers a unique experience. For photography enthusiasts, the early morning hours offer the best conditions for photography when sunlight creates magical reflections on the surface of the lake.

This place is perfect for a day trip, but also for an extended stay if you want to explore all the beauties it has to offer. It is recommended to bring comfortable walking shoes, water, and of course a camera to immortalize the beautiful sights.

History

Due to the peculiarities of the terrain itself and the difficult accessibility that offered greater security, in the past a number of churches and monasteries and other sacral buildings were built in Matka Canyon. Due to the large number of churches and monasteries, Matka also bears the name Mount Athos. Today, most of the churches from the medieval period are preserved, and some are in ruins or only their foundations exist. In Matka Canyon there are the following churches and monasteries:

• Monastery of the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God
• Monastery “St. Nicholas” Shishevski
• Monastery “St. Andrew”
• Church of St. Spas with remnants of the early Christian churches of Holy Trinity and St. George
• Church of St. Sunday (in ruins)

In addition to the religious buildings, high in the Matka Canyon, stand the remains (walls) of the once medieval fortress “Markov Grad”. It was built as a refuge for the population and monastery churches at the time of the arrival of the Ottomans.