St. Naum Monastery & Springs

10th-century monastery over crystal springs

At the southern end of Lake Ohrid, almost touching the Albanian border, the monastery of St. Naum has watched the lake since the 10th century. Its founder is buried inside the chapel, and tradition says that if you press an ear to the tomb you can still hear his heartbeat.

The real spectacle is behind the monastery: the springs of the Crn Drim river, where icy water rises through white sand into a pool so clear the rowboats above it look suspended in air. Peacocks patrol the grounds, and small beaches line the lake on either side.