prespa has always been a place where people and culture have met. it's story has seen the rule of bulgars, serbs, franks, byzantians and ottomans, giving the area a rich and interesting cultural heritage. prespa has many byzantine and post-byzantine monuments. the most famous is certainly the basilica of agios achillios, on the island of same name, built by samuel, czar of the bulgars in the late 10th century. however many other churches are interesting to visit too: the 11th century church of agios germanos with its beautiful frescoes, the recently restored 15th century church of agios nikolaos on the edge of pili village, or the church of the virgin of the porphyra on the island of agios achillios. after the collapse of the byzantine empire in the mid 14th century, came five centuries of ottoman rule. however, prespa being so remote, the turkish presence was relatively light. this period then saw a flourishing christian presence, with the building of churches, monasteries and hermitages. on the shore of lake megali prespa one can find the remains of numerous hermitages, still decorated with impressive frescoes dating up to the 14th century. these are easily accessible by boat, but a bit more difficult is the walk to them. however a lucky trekker will be granted an amazing view over the lake.
