Submerged church of St. Nicholas

The Submerged Church of St. Nicholas in Mavrovo is a stone building with a bell tower partially underwater in Mavrovo Lake. The remaining walls and tower structure still rise above the water surface, framed by the surrounding mountains.

Local workers built the church in 1857 using marble and granite stone, making it a center of worship for the community. When Mavrovo Lake was created in 1953 due to dam construction, the waters rose and submerged the building, but its structure remained intact.

The original iconostasis and religious objects were rescued and moved to a nearby church before the flooding, preserving the spiritual connection to this place. Local people still recognize this sunken building as a symbol of their faith and heritage in the region.

Visit during summer when lake water levels are lower and more of the structure is visible above the surface. A boat or a viewpoint on the shore provides the best way to see the submerged ruins clearly.

Despite decades of continuous exposure to lake water, the stone walls have maintained their structural integrity, making it a rare example of resilience. This phenomenon attracts researchers studying how the original building techniques managed to withstand long-term submersion.

Location: Mavrovo and Rostuša Municipality

Inception: 1850

GPS coordinates: 41.66001,20.73551

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:07