Patriarchate of Pec
Patriarchate of Pec
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
143 reviews
Excellent
99
Very good
36
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Matvl
5,590 contributions
Aug 2021 • Solo
This monastery in Peja is lovely. The grounds are immaculate and the church complex is quiet and lovely. If you’re lucky a num in the gift shop may be amenable for a conversation about monastery life; and if you’re a summer visitor the mulberries on the ancient mulberry tree are really wonderful. Come for a wander, it is a lovely spot.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marek Bocanek
Brno, Czech Republic402 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Very well preserved monastery and seat of eparchy Rashka and Prizren from old Serbian state from the 14th century. The interior is just amazing and breathtaking, merging from few smaller churches.
very nice attitude by the nuns there, they were very kind. You can find a souvernir shop there too if you want to keep an item for memory.
You will be asked for passport when entering, but they will the return it to you before going inside (unlike Decani).
very nice attitude by the nuns there, they were very kind. You can find a souvernir shop there too if you want to keep an item for memory.
You will be asked for passport when entering, but they will the return it to you before going inside (unlike Decani).
Written July 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beatriz M
Düsseldorf, Germany5,677 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
I visited this place because it was highly recommended online and also by some other travellers I met on the day before in Prizren. And it is really worth visiting if you are in Peja as it is super near the center of the city. The interiors are fully painted with religious figures, it is really colorful and impressive. Different rooms, very nice. Entrance is free, I just showed my passport at the entrance and that was it. It would be nice to have some sort of explanation or informative board, I did not find it.
Written May 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
straea
United States260 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
This monastery is so beautiful it's almost unbelievable. I visited Serbia prior to visiting Kosovo and did a day trip with a guide who took me to a park of miniatures of Serbian Orthodox monasteries, where I saw a miniature of this one, its red color eye-catching even across the little park. "What are the painted things near the roof?" I asked, "Stained glass windows?" No, she said, they are paintings on the exterior of the building. From that moment I knew I wanted to try to visit this monastery while I was in Kosovo. It turned out to be even more beautiful in person than the beauty of the miniature.
You get an audio guide to the church with the 2 euro entrance fee (available in English and Serbian but I'm not sure about what other languages), which takes you on a loop around the exterior and then highlights some of the frescoes and objects in the interior. While some other reviews complain that the audio guide is too long, I didn't find that at all; the full tour takes at most 45 minutes, including walking from spot to spot and looking around between guided commentary. Some of the frescoes are original and some have been restored or redone.
In addition to the church, there are some reconstructed buildings (of which only the shop appeared to be open to the public) and some ruins, as well as a number of picnic tables where visitors, nuns, and UN Peacekeepers were eating when we finished touring the church. The nuns still keep bees and do some other agricultural activities, and as other reviews have mentioned, some of their products are for sale in their shop.
You have to present ID to be allowed onto this site. If you come by car, the guards will then allow you to drive up the short driveway to the little parking lot. We came over from Pristina and it took about an hour, including traffic both in Pristina and in Pec on the way here. UN Peacekeepers watch over everything from various points outside and inside the complex.
As the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, this site isn't only beautiful but in my opinion also crucial to understanding why so many Serbs continue to believe Kosovo should "belong" to Serbia rather than being an independent country. In my visit to Serbia prior to Kosovo, several Serbs brought up this monastery to me.
You get an audio guide to the church with the 2 euro entrance fee (available in English and Serbian but I'm not sure about what other languages), which takes you on a loop around the exterior and then highlights some of the frescoes and objects in the interior. While some other reviews complain that the audio guide is too long, I didn't find that at all; the full tour takes at most 45 minutes, including walking from spot to spot and looking around between guided commentary. Some of the frescoes are original and some have been restored or redone.
In addition to the church, there are some reconstructed buildings (of which only the shop appeared to be open to the public) and some ruins, as well as a number of picnic tables where visitors, nuns, and UN Peacekeepers were eating when we finished touring the church. The nuns still keep bees and do some other agricultural activities, and as other reviews have mentioned, some of their products are for sale in their shop.
You have to present ID to be allowed onto this site. If you come by car, the guards will then allow you to drive up the short driveway to the little parking lot. We came over from Pristina and it took about an hour, including traffic both in Pristina and in Pec on the way here. UN Peacekeepers watch over everything from various points outside and inside the complex.
As the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, this site isn't only beautiful but in my opinion also crucial to understanding why so many Serbs continue to believe Kosovo should "belong" to Serbia rather than being an independent country. In my visit to Serbia prior to Kosovo, several Serbs brought up this monastery to me.
Written August 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MelineJ
22 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
While visiting the Rugova valley we made a stop by the monastery and it was definitely worth the drive from Pristina.
Be aware that KOFR and the Kosovo police are in place to protect the nuns and the monastery from possible unrest. Make sure to bring a form of ID/passport to show the armed guards at the gate. They then call the nuns to confirm that you can enter. Entry fee is 2 euros (pay at the gift shop).
The monastery is at the bottom of the Rugova valley in a stunning and peaceful setting right next to the river. It is made up of 4 churches as one large building with tombs dating as far back as 1230s. The frescoes and relics inside are really impressive and very well preserved. The grounds around the monastery are well maintained though it would be nice to have a bit more information about some of the ruins and artefacts present.
The nun in the gift shop spoke English very well and was very friendly. She offered for us to try their 15 year old 'homemade' raki - we bought a couple of bottles!
Be aware that KOFR and the Kosovo police are in place to protect the nuns and the monastery from possible unrest. Make sure to bring a form of ID/passport to show the armed guards at the gate. They then call the nuns to confirm that you can enter. Entry fee is 2 euros (pay at the gift shop).
The monastery is at the bottom of the Rugova valley in a stunning and peaceful setting right next to the river. It is made up of 4 churches as one large building with tombs dating as far back as 1230s. The frescoes and relics inside are really impressive and very well preserved. The grounds around the monastery are well maintained though it would be nice to have a bit more information about some of the ruins and artefacts present.
The nun in the gift shop spoke English very well and was very friendly. She offered for us to try their 15 year old 'homemade' raki - we bought a couple of bottles!
Written March 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kosovo Local Guide
Pristina, Kosovo44 contributions
Nov 2018 • Business
Surrounded by beautiful mountains of Rugova valley and just next to the river, with nice garden, this is the oldest orthodox monastery in Kosovo. Composed by 4 churches, it has huge number of original frescos. There is also nice shop where you can buy souvenirs. Must visit.
Written March 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nebojsa R
Belgrade71 contributions
Apr 2018
One of the jewels of the Orthodox Christianity. The holy place for Serbian people. A tranquil place to visit
Written February 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris F
Worcester, UK29 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
This is a beautiful place in easy walking distance from the centre of Pec. The grounds are peaceful and very well maintained. The €2 entrance fee which included a very detailed audio guide in English, is incredible value. The outside of the church is incredible, but the frescos inside are even more impressive.
Really worth a visit.
Make sure you have your passport/ ID with you as this is required to enter.
Really worth a visit.
Make sure you have your passport/ ID with you as this is required to enter.
Written June 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dragisa
Belgrade, Serbia17 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
Patriarchate of Pec is one of the most important medieval monasteries in the Balkans, and definitely “must see” while in Western Kosovo/Pec. The monastery was built in 13th century and through the history it was a seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church. As of 2006, the Monastery is put on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
While being in the Monastery don’t forget to see the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pec, as well as St. Sava’s mulberry tree from 13th century.
While being in the Monastery don’t forget to see the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pec, as well as St. Sava’s mulberry tree from 13th century.
Written December 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lili C
Tallinn, Estonia17 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
The monastery can be reached by walking from the city center. It takes about 30 min. Don't forget to bring your passport or national ID because the guard checks before allowing entrance.
The monastery has an audit guide with very detailed information. The guide is free with the entrance fee. You can also purchase rakia, honey, and other products that are made at the monastery.
The monastery has an audit guide with very detailed information. The guide is free with the entrance fee. You can also purchase rakia, honey, and other products that are made at the monastery.
Written November 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My Daughter-in-Love says 2-3 Euros, no more. As an aside, a son and I took a taxi from Peje to Pristina for 35 Euros.
Written June 30, 2019
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