5. The name of our town is Kriva Palanka. The
name derives from the curved riverbed of the
river Kriva Reka.
This town has about 20,000 inhabitants.
6. There are two primary schools in our town,
“Joakim Krchovski” and “Ilinden’. They include
also satellite schools located in the surrounding
villages of Kriva Palanka.There is also a high
school which offers a wide range of streams for
studying and professional orientation.
7. There is a sports hall, stadium, multi-purpose
playground and tennis court. There are clubs
for basketball, football, handball, volleyball,
tennis, table tennis and karate.
There is also a path along the river for jogging
and riding a bike.
8. The majority of the population in Kriva Palanka are
Orthodox Christians.There are great number of churches
and monasteries found in the town, but also in its
surroundings. In the whole of Macedonia and even wider
Kriva Palanka is known for one of the most beautiful
monastery complexes - the monastery of St. Joakim
Osogovski.The church "St. Dimitri “ is also famous.
9. Osogovo Monastery or St. Joakim Osogovski is a Macedonian
Orthodox monastery located near Kriva Palanka, 10 kilometres from
the Bulgarian border in the Osogovo Mountain. Osogovo
Monastery is not only a holy place but it is also home to an art colony
and an architecture school during the summer.
The monastery consists of two churches including the larger "Saint
Joakim of Osogovo" and the smaller “The Holy Mother of God.”
The monastery was founded in the 12th century, though there are no
remains of the original monastery now. The smaller church in
today's monastery complex got its present look in the 14th century,
while the larger one was built in the 19th century.
The larger, was built in 1851 by Andrey Damyanov. It has 12 cupolas,
which represent the 12 apostles, and porches on its southern and
western sides. Most of the church's interior and cupolas were
painted by Dimitar Andonov Papradiški.
10. St. Joakim of Osogovo
Monastery Chandelier and frescoes
Icon
Tomb at the monastery
11.
12. Every year in Kriva Palanka many cultural events are held,
among which the most significant are: the Art Colony "St.
Joakim Osogovski", the Summer School of Architecture and
The Folklore Festival "St. Joakim Osogovski".
Art colony "St. Joakim Osogovski"
The art colony "St. Joakim Osogovski" was first held on 5th
September 1987. The colony is held from the 5th
till the 20th
September every year.
In 1993, the colony acquired an international character and
since then many artists from different countries participate in
it.
Folklore Festival "St. Joakim Osogovski"
The folk festival "St. Joakim Osogovski" is a festival of
international character and is held on August the 28th and
29th in Kriva Palanka. So far, many folklore groups from
different countries such as Bulgaria, Serbia Turkey, Belgium
and Montenegro participated in the festival.
13. In recent years, local authorities in Kriva Palanka are
increasingly investing in tourism as one of the most
important branches of the economy in Macedonia.With
its natural beauty, rich cultural and historical tradition,
Kriva Palanka is increasingly being promoted both by
domestic and foreign tourists.
The villages Gradec, Trnovo and Stanci with their
touristic sites are open to tourists at any time.
There is a City Museum of Kriva Palanka where tourists
can buy souvenirs and bring something as a memory
form our small but beautiful town.