Kriva Palanka is settled on the course of Kriva Reka in north-eastern part of Macedonia. It’s the seat of the Kriva Palanka municipality.

According to the 2002 census, the Kriva Palanka had 14,558 inhabitants. Kriva Palanka lies on the northern slopes of Osogovo mountains, at an altitude of 640 metres above sea level.

The unusual name of the town comes from its position on the banks of the river Kriva. At first Kriva Palanka used to be called Egri Dere (curved river in Turkish). Later, the word Palanka replaced the word Dere.

Kriva Palanka is located 13 km from the border with Bulgaria (Deve Bair or Ramna Niva) on the E-871 route (Kumanovo – Sophia). The main road which connects Kriva Palanka with Kumanovo (60 km) and Skopje (99 km) is passing by the mountanous town.

The most known industrial products that the Kriva Palanka region is represented in the home markets are: wood products (quality furniture), as well as agricultural (potato, wheat, barley, rye, corn and oats).

Apart from the well-known Monastery of Saint Joakim Osogovski, famous for its beauty and importance, there is also the Monastery Church of St. Nikola near the village of Psaca, which is an area full of hundred-year-old oak trees. Kriva Palanka is host of the Art Colony Saint Joachim Osogovski and the Summer School for Architecture, an important events in Kriva Palanka municipality.

Climate & when to come in Kriva Palanka

The climate in Kriva Palanka and the region is mildy-continental, with mildy cold winters and mildy warm summers. The average temperature is 10,2°C. During the year the warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 20°C, while the coldest month is January, with an average temperature of -0,3°C.

Kriva Palanka tourist attractions

• Saint Joachim Osogovski – Osogovo monastery Located 2 km away from the Kriva Palanka (then a half-hour walk up the mountain road). The nowadays monastery has two churches – the old one, Holy Mother of God, and the new one, St. Joachim Ossogovski. The new church was built between 1847-1851 by Andrea Damjanov. The most impressive wall paintings were done by Dimitar Andonov Papradishki. The remains of Joakim Ossogovski are to the right of the church entry. The both churches from the 13th and the 19th century aren’t interesting as others in Macedonia, but the settlement is that, what makes the monastery special. Most people go to church to avoid meeting Satan, but that’s not possible at Osogovo, where the Dark Prince peers out from the frescoes adorning the outside of the church. It’s unusual to see frescoes on the outside walls of churches and monasteries, but even more unusual to see a Judgement Day theme. People were burning in hell, disfigured animals were torturing townfolk and the village was on fire. Here are some gravestones next to the older of the two churches. The 19th century church is filled with 19th century religious frescoes, but pictures are not allowed. That’s okay actually as they have been heavily restored. You can take pictures of the frescoes on the walls and roof of the church porticoes. This is one in the small portico dome to the right of the main entrance.2.21 km E from Kriva Palanka center