Mystery and History: Zrze, Peshna and Devini Kuli

If you enjoy travelling back to the Middle Ages, and if you enjoy the perfect combination of natural beauties, history, legends and good food, Zrze and Peshna shall be the must-visit places.

The perfect harmonious union of nature and of the monastery “Transfiguration of Jesus” in Zrze shall immediately catch your eye. While approaching by foot the monastery gates, you shall be delighted with the playful form of the tufa rock, up-close, with all its indentations, as if it was created by a famous sculptor. And once you learn that it hides caves in which the monks’ settlement was established, and that such indentations were hermits’ cells, it shall give the place another, divine dimension.

The monastery’s courtyard accommodates the church dating back to the XIV century. The most significant icons of this church are those of Christ Saviour and Life-Giver and the miraculous icon of the Holy Mother Pelagonitissa. The legend of the unusual position in which these two icons have been placed is rather interesting. According to the legend, the monks have initially positioned the icons according to the orthodox canons; however, the icons have changed their position for three nights in a row. When the monks have asked the Holy Mother of the reason for why this is happening, she responded that she would not like to turn her back on her son, and since then, the icons have remained in the current position.

Devini Kuli (Deva’s Towers), is the next stop of this tour, located in the vicinity of Makedonski Brod. According to the history, two of the four King Marko’s sisters lived here, Deva and Pesha. The first sister lived in the tower, and the second lived in the cave fortress. Although rather close, yet the main obstacle to reach the towers is the Treska River, known in the past as Velika (Great) River. The stone tower with preserved height of about five metres holds the central position on the highest hill part. This is the position with the most beautiful view to the Peshna cave entrance.

Peshna, on the other side, is the largest-entrance cave in the country. A size which is difficult to photograph. The cave is a home to a great number of swallows, as well as bats, which cannot be seen during the day. It should be visited in spring or late autumn, when a strong natural spring emerges from the cave; the spring is fully dry during the summer. Remnants from a former medieval fortress and from an old mill can also be found in the cave. Ancient tomb, empty and open, can be seen near the road.

Catering facilities can be found near Peshna, resulting into inevitable combining of the walk with a well-cooked fresh fish from the local fishponds.

Logistical information: Tour departure point is Prilep. The tour includes organized transport to the Zrze monastery and to the Peshna cave. Tour duration is seven hours.