Loven Dom 5

Walking trail LOVEN DOM - ST. ELIJAH - MONUMENT OF NOB – SHELTERS - CHURCH Ss. CYRIL AND METHODIUS

The walking trail starts at the area of “Loven Dom” and is designed for recreational, environmental, research, and educational purposes. It is used for walking, hiking, running, mountaineering, mountain biking, and other activities. The walking trail further continues to“Saint Elijah”monastery, which is a pleasant place to rest, relax, and it is a place that brings spiritual peace.

The trail further continues to the Monument of NOB, offering a possibility for panorama photography of the city of Strumica, and the Strumica valley. Climbing up, the trail passes through a place called “Shelters”, and continues to the memorial Kosturnica.

Because of these features, the trail is ideal for lovers of extreme, steep, trail climbing. There is a need of clearing the accumulated branches, and repairment of the holes in some places of the road, so the road is easily penetrable. This is an ideal place for a walk, picnic, rest and recreation, and for inhaling fresh air, because of the richness with greenery and clean mountain air.

The walking trail further leads to the Church “Ss. Cyril and Methodius”, the Great Slavic educators, the brothers Cyril and Methodius, who are founders of Slavic literacy, and literature. The church is located in the old part of the city of Strumica.

• Flora and fauna:

The walking trail has diverse flora and fauna. The lower parts are prevalent with short stemmed forest, and diverse plants, such as, raspberries, blackberries, currants, blueberries, and dog rose. There are also several varieties of tea, and mushrooms, including: chanterelles - cantharellus, champignon- agaricus bisporus and parasol mushroom - Macrolepiota procera.

Among the deciduous trees, most prevalent are: betuala alba - birch, tilia sp. – linden. The evergreen trees are predominant in the upper parts, including: pinus silvestris - pine, abies alba - fir, cupressus sp. - cypress, juniperus sp. - juniper. The fauna is rich in, rabbits, wolves, foxes, wild pigs. Among the birds that can be seen are: nightingales, pheasants, partridges, eagles and falcons, and there are also various kinds of insects.

• Additional opportunities for using the trail (eco-tourism, walking and jogging, mountain biking, herbal tourism).

TRACK TYPE: Ground