Kriva Palanka is a town in the northeastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in the Slavishte area, at the foothills of the Osogovo Mountains, on both banks of the Kriva River. Close by lies the Deve Bair border crossing to the Republic of Bulgaria.
According to the 2021 census, the town has 13,481 inhabitants, placing it among the medium-sized towns of Macedonia.
The name Kriva Palanka comes from the curved valley of the Kriva River. Its former Turkish name was Egri Dere, meaning “crooked river.”
Kriva Palanka is one of the younger settlements in Macedonia, founded in 1633 by the Ottoman governor Bayram Pasha as a military and defensive center. A plaque from that year, inscribed in Arabic script, confirms the founding and today is preserved in the Museum of Macedonia in Skopje.
One of the most important figures tied to the town is Joakim Krčovski, an early Macedonian revivalist. With support from local merchants, he published five influential books between 1814–1819 in Buda, written in the vernacular language. In 1817, he also helped establish a church–cell school in the town, promoting education and literacy.
After World War I, in 1918, Kriva Palanka gained municipal status within the Vardar Banovina of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. In this period, significant infrastructure was built: the municipal building, Officer’s Club, the “Partizan” school, an old hospital, and riverbed regulation of the Kriva River. Work also began on the first electric power plant in northeastern Macedonia, on the Durachka River.
During World War II, the town once again found itself in the shadow of conflict, but its people continued their struggle for freedom and survival.
Kriva Palanka is a town rich in cultural and spiritual heritage. At its heart stands the Monastery of St. Joakim Osogovski, a place of deep religious, cultural, and national importance. The monastery is not only a spiritual sanctuary but also a symbol of identity for the whole Osogovo region.
Artists, writers, and musicians from Kriva Palanka have drawn inspiration from this heritage, creating a cultural life that continues to thrive like embers in an old hearth.
The cuisine of Kriva Palanka is humble yet soulful, shaped by its mountains and rivers. Local specialties include:
Every meal here begins with bread and salt, and ends with laughter, memories, and warmth.
The sporting spirit of Kriva Palanka is strong and uniting. The local football club Osogovo carries the pride of the town, while youth handball and basketball teams inspire the younger generation. Hiking, running, and cycling in the Osogovo Mountains are not just activities but a way of life, shaping discipline, teamwork, and endurance.
Kriva Palanka and Macedonia are not just a place to live—they are a feeling, a love, and a lasting emotion.
For those far away, Kriva Palanka remains a reminder of home, faith, and belonging.
