Last year, exactly on the Assumption of the Mother of God holiday, we laid the corner-stone for a construction of this road, which leads to the one of most popular temples in Balkan region, the Treskavec monastery, and today we have the pleasure to set into operation, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Wednesday.

The Government invested Denar 83 million (EUR 1.4 million) in the new 7.5km-long road from Prilep to the monastery.

This road will enable a development of the monastery and other forms of alternative tourism, Gruevski said. The reconstruction of the monastery's lodging houses is expected to attract over 50.000 tourists annually, he said.

Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska said the new road would enable better access to this 13th century monastery.

"Visitors may now come to 'Treskavec' and get familiar with the spiritual life of this temple, which has thus far hosted many scholars and old masters, who created extraordinary paintings and frescos.