Aside from the natural scenery, the Prespa area is home to many historical sites. Golem Grad, often mistaken as the only island in the country, is certainly the most unique destination in the area.
Most of Prespa's villages are home to historic churches and monasteries, some standing since the Middle Ages; the more well-known ones are listed below. As most of the churches are locked much of the time, ask around in the respective village for a key if you wish to access the inside. The locations below are listed going clockwise around Lake Prespa from Golem Grad.
1 Golem Grad (Голем Град) (2 km S of Konjsko). The largest island in the country, Golem Grad is a part of Galičica National Park. It is located in the corner of North Macedonia, a few kilometers from Greek and Albanian territory. It is accessible only via boat; small tour boats can usually be found in Konjsko or Stenje. The ride is shorter from Konjsko than Stenje (30 minutes vs. 90 minutes), but Konjsko itself is much more difficult to reach by car than Stenje. The island has an area of 20 hectares (50 acres) and is surrounded by caves and cliffs, the highest of which rises 50 m (164 ft) above the lake. Golem Grad is home to diverse flora and fauna. It used to be known for its snakes but it is much more of a sanctuary for birds. The island, uninhabited since the mid-20th century, is also home to many ruins of ancient settlements of varying condition. The archaeological sites include a Roman cistern, six churches, and multiple Roman and Hellenistic houses. (updated Sep 2016)
2 Church of Saint Peter (Црква „Св. Петар“). One of several churches on the island but the only one completely standing, last renovated in 1934. It was built in 1360 under Serbian King Vukašin. It was built of brick and stone. The frescoes inside are not too well-preserved. (updated Sep 2016)
3 Monument to the Prespa Meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Part of Macedonia (Споменик за Преспанското советување на ЦК на КПМ), Oteševo. This interesting communist memorial sits in rough shape, like much of Oteševo. Of all such monuments in Prespa, this is the biggest. It consists of several detached white arched walls pointing upwards. The monument commemorates the historic meeting which took place in August 1943. (updated Oct 2019)
4 Podmočani Ethnological Museum (Етнолошки музеј Подмочани), Podmočani, ☏ +389 75985313. open daily. This museum is located on the main road in Podmočani. It houses a rich collection of over 2,000 pieces of art, jewelry, weapons, coins, and over 160 traditional costumes from across Macedonia. The collection was started by villager Jone Evtimovski and it remains within his home to this day. Ask about the etymology of this village's name (it translates to something funny in Macedonian). (updated Sep 2016)
5 Prespa Cross & Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Преспански крст и Црква Св. Петар и Павле), Podmočani. This small church was built in the 2000s atop a hill above Podmočani and the lake. A tall Christian cross, which is illuminated at night, was erected next to the church. It stands 30 m (98 ft) tall. The location of the cross and church offers spectacular views of the lake, the mountains, and the nearby plains. The older, main church of the village was built in 1848 and is dedicated to St George. (updated Sep 2016)
6 Church of Saint Michael the Archangel (Црква „Св. Архангел Михаил“), Asamati. Asamati has long been a multi-ethnic village of Orthodox Christians and Muslims at the shore of Lake Prespa. This 1636-built church looks toward the lake. The frescoes within date from the original construction through later centuries. The church is single-naved with covered porches on each side. Interestingly, the village never had a mosque until 2004. (updated Sep 2019)
7 Church of Saint George (Црква „Св. Ѓорѓи“) (Kurbinovo). The most important church in the Prespa region, the Church of St George was built in 1191 during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelos. Located in the village of Kurbinovo, it has rather simple architecture and is one of the largest aisleless churches in Macedonia. It has frescoes both on the outside and the inside. The walls on the inside are covered in frescoes from top to bottom. These frescoes, in very good condition, are what make the church a significant example of the Macedonian Renaissance period of Byzantine art. The fresco of Archangel Gabriel is seen on the Macedonian 50-denar banknote. To reach the church, follow the main road of the village uphill. A typical car can drive up most of this road. In 2020, the church was added to Macedonia's tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (updated Sep 2016)
8 Slivnica Monastery (Сливнички манастир, St. Mary, or Sv. Bogorodica), Slivnica. This monastery complex contains one church dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. Located on the western slopes of Baba Mountain in a forested area, it can be reached by car on a long paved road above the village. The monastery was built in the early 17th century. The church has two main sections and a prominent attached white bell tower. The frescoes inside the church were completed in the 17th century. The monastery also contains dormitory buildings in the traditional architectural style. The courtyard contains water believed to have healing abilities. Many sightings of the Virgin Mary have been reported at the monastery, the last one being in 2006. (updated Sep 2021)
9 Church of Saint John the Baptist (Црква „Св. Јован Богослов“), Ljubojno. The village's main church is situated at its center. Its bell tower is the entrance to its courtyard which also contains the village cemetery. The large church was built in 1861. It was burned during the Ilinden Uprising, and then restored in 1921. The apse in the rear is the only section retain the stone block exterior, with the rest being white. (updated Oct 2019)
10 Ljubojno Monastery (Љубојнски манастир), Ljubojno. Established in the 1920s, this monastery isn't among the more historic of the region but it is an interesting one, mostly because of its location high above the village on Baltan Mountain. The white church and its neighboring bell tower can be seen from the village below and further beyond. It can be reached by a 30-minute uphill hike from the village. On the way up, stop and visit the tiny Church of Saint Athanasius built in 1623. On Saint Peter's Day, when the monastery is visited by many, some villagers offer tractor rides to the grounds. (updated Oct 2019)
11 Brajčino Monastery (Брајчински манастир), Brajčino. This 15th-century monastery contains a small church dedicated to Saint Petka. Though small, it has significant frescoes done in two periods. The oldest of these, dating from the 16th century, are preserved on the east and west walls of the nave. The other frescoes date from the 18th century. The church's icons date from the 16th century and later. Its dormitories were destroyed in the early 20th century but rebuilt in 1985. The monastery sits in a flat area above the village, about 500 meters uphill from the Vila Raskrsnica restaurant and inn at the eastern end of the village. (updated Sep 2016)
12 Church of Saint Nicholas (Црква „Св. Никола“), Brajčino. The main village church of Brajčino is this 1872-built church dedicated to St Nicholas. The walls aren't frescoed, though the apse is. The iconostasis was made from 1875 through 1889. The village cemetery is found in the church courtyard, which also looks out to Lake Prespa. In addition to its monastery and this main church, Brajčino has four other churches, a couple of which involve rather difficult but rewarding hikes to reach. (updated Sep 2019)
13 Markova Noga (Маркова Нога), Dolno Dupeni. Meaning "Marko's Foot", this is an area just south of Dolno Dupeni. It is so named for a stone bearing a footprint said to belong to King Marko. This is the southernmost point of the country. The stone sits within the border area so one must speak with guards to ask for permission to see the stone. (updated Sep 2019)
