The Monastery of St Nikola Shishovski is located high on the cliffs above Lake Matka near Skopje. It is not exactly known when the church was built, likely somewhere near the 14th century when it was first mentioned. Allegedly it was abandoned in the 18th century.
The high location is spectacular and gives you a wonderful view of Lake Matka and the Monastery of St Andrea below. Most pictures of the lake and St Andrea that you see in guides and postcards are taken from this place.
The Monastery of St Nikola Shishovski is on the opposite site of the Matka Canyon from the Church of St Andrea, the Monastery of St Bogorodica, the Church of St Spas and the Church of St Nedela.
The Monastery of St Nikola Shishovski can be reached by a hike, starting from the bridge at the beginning of Lake Matka. Near the restaurant and close to the bus stop, take the blue bridge over the river and go left. The trail is marked with red and yellow stripes and spots. It takes about 1-1.30h to reach St Nikola from here, and it is a steep walk. This is the red trail on the map below.
Alternatively, you can cross the lake with a boat from St Andrea and walk/climb very steeply uphill to St Nikola (the blue trail on the map below). This climb is about 180 m and takes you about 20-30 min. Make sure you have good shoes. It probably makes more sense to take the boat from Andrea and climb to the Monastery of St Nikola Shishovski than the other way around, because there may not be a boat to pick you up and bring you back to St Andrea! However, when you do take the steep trail down from St Nikola, you can either scream to the other site of the lake (St Andrea) to be picked up by boat, or use the gong that is hanging there.
See here for more info about Lake Matka
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