Rep. of Macedonia (FYROM) Destination Guide

Bitola, located 18 km from the Greek border, is the second largest city in the Rep. of Macedonia. An important centre during the Ottoman rule, Bitola is known for its turn of the century architecture, its heritage café culture, the beautiful shopping promenades, etc. Visit the sites of the ancient city of Heraclea, near Bitola.

Brajčino is located on the eastern shores of Lake Prespa, one of the three major lakes in Macedonia. This quaint village is at a height of 1000 m, to the south west of Macedonia. With a population of 160 people, mostly elders, Brajčino is a must see for travellers for its breathtaking natural beauty, its beautiful churches and monasteries and its unique architecture. The hospitability of the people makes you feel at home. The only sounds are of the evening winds and the gurgling river, punctuated occasionally by the cry of a rooster or the bark of a dog.

You can go for a mountain hike to the top of Mt. Pelister. Brajčino offers a village walk where you can view three beautiful churches, a monastery and historical houses. At Brajčino you will enjoy a leisure holiday that is just the perfect break in your hectic travel schedule.

This small town in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia can be covered by foot. Do remember to carry enough local currency, for you are not likely to get any place to exchange money. Though there is a gas station on the highway that can exchange small bills of Euros, it is better not to take the chance.

Demir Kapija offers umpteen opportunities for bikers, kayakers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The city has two of the most famous wineries in Macedonia. The royal winery and vineyards of the Yugoslavian king Alexandar Karadjordjevic are here. There is also a new winery that has come up at the top of Popova Kula, and looks like a fort tower from the Turkish period. You can visit both wineries and also sample the wines.

Dojran is located on Lake Dojran, the smallest of Macedonia's three major lakes. The 42 square km, 10 m deep Dojran Lake is shared between Greece and Macedonia. Dojran is made up of two fishing towns - Nov Dojran and Star Dojran. Nov Dojran was established at the end of World War I, which had destroyed the old town of Dojran. Star Dojran has most of the new buildings including the hotels, resorts and restaurants and attracts the tourists.

The town is a major tourist attraction, being one of the more archeologically relevant places in Macedonia. The St. Ilja Church is to the northern part of Dojran. Built in 1874, the frescoes on the walls now remain in fragments. Numerous archaeological finds in Dojran has unearthed marble plates with inscriptions in Greek, epitaphs on tombs, coins and remains of walls. There is a 14^th century clock tower that was partly destroyed during the 1^st World War and can be seen today in the same condition. The upper part of the town, with a Turkish population, has a Turkish bath, the time of construction of which is not known.

Kruševo lies to the western part of the Macedonian republic. This is a town which will give you the feeling that you are walking through history. The 1903 Ilinden uprising against the Ottoman rule started here. The 2^nd August national holiday is celebrated here. Situated at 1300 metres, Kruševo is a popular winter sports destination. The town is the centre for the Vlach people, a minority in Macedonia.

Kumanovo is the third largest Macedonian city located in a long valley (35 km long) and reflecting a blend of Serbian and Macedonian culture evident from the fun loving attitude of the feisty Kumanovci. Located 35 km northeast of Skopje, the city has many churches, some stone houses from the 19^th century, labyrinth of alleys connecting typical Macedonian houses with terracotta roofs, and other features of old Yugoslavia.

The city also reflects Macedonia's multi-ethnic character, being home to Serbians, Turkish, Albanians and other minorities. One thing that you do not have to worry about in Kumanovo is mineral water. The water from the mineral water springs of Kumanovo is not only good for drinking but is also good for the skin and eyes. It is available, across Macedonia, in a carbonated form under the brand name ‘Kumanovka'.

The National Park is the largest in Macedonia and covers an area of more than 73 hectares. Inside the park is the Sv. Jovan Bigorski, a monastery in the memory of St. John, the Forerunner. Built in the 18th century, this monastery is adorned with beautiful frescoes and icons. The Golem Korab Mountains, the largest mountain in Macedonia, is on the border with Albania. The biggest attraction of the Mavrovo Lake is the half submerged church in the lake. The lake also provides ample opportunity for swimming, boating and fishing during summer.

Ohrid, a large town in the southern part of Macedonia, is located by the Lake Ohrid and high mountain ranges that go up to 2,800m. The most attractive of Macedonia's destinations, Ohrid is also a UNESCO Heritage Site. It is one of the most beautiful natural locales of historic eminence. The Cathedral of St. Sophia, built in the 11^th century, has beautiful frescoes that you should not miss. The first Slav University was founded here by St. Clement of Ohrid.

Prilep, the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia, is famous for its tobacco, which is used by many of the world's leading cigarette manufacturers. Also known as ‘the city under Marko's Towers' for its nearness to the towers built in honour of the legendary King Marco, Prilep is famous for medieval monasteries and strange rocks. Located in the central part of Macedonia, Prilep also produces huge quantities of Macedonian Bianco Sivec or pure white marble. There are a large number of monasteries and churches in Prilep, reminiscent of its days as the capital city of king Volkasin and Marko.

This is an ancient settlement in the Demir Kapija Canyon and is also known as Stenae. The settlement was built strategically for combat and was discovered as recently as 1948. The four towers of this ancient settlement still stand today. Ceramic objects, jewellery, coins etc. have been found as remnants of the past.

Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1963. The place is dotted with architectural evidences from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, churches, mosques etc that speak of Skopje's varied culture and history. Look out for the iconostasis in the Church of the Holy Saviour, located in the Skopje Old Town. There are also several ‘caravanserais' or road side inns from the 15^th and 16^th century. The Mustafa Pasha Mosque, a 15^th century Ottoman period mosque and the 12^th century St. Pantelejmon Church with Byzantine frescoes are some of the popular sites to watch out for.

A peaceful city in eastern Macedonia, Štip is the textile and fashion capital of the country. While at Štip, visit the ruins of the towns of Bargala and Astibo. Archeologically diverse with its churches and mosques, Štip is also an important centre for education, culture and commerce. The Kežovica Spa is famous for its therapeutic qualities in curing rheumatism, ankle and nervous system, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, etc. The temperature of the water in the spa ranges to 620C, and the radioactivity to 42, 82 moch units. The rejuvenating effects of the spa water comes from the sodium chloride, sodium sulphate and sodium oxide present in it.

Stobi is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Macedonia. This ancient town of Paionia was conquered by Macedon. It was later added to the Roman province of Macedonia Salutaris. Stobi was built at the confluence of the River Erigon (Crna) and the River Axios (Vardar) and hence became a centre for trade and commerce. Located on the main road from Danube to the Aegean Sea, Stobi today is located in Gradsko.

Struga, also known as the ‘city of poetry', spreads around the River Drim. Less popular than Ohrid, as a tourist destination, the small town of Struga can be a fun place for a day outing. Struga is also on Lake Ohrid and is known for its tranquil beaches and cave churches. You can combine your trip to Struga with a trip to the villages on the west coast of Lake Ohrid. Your day out can ideally end with coffee by the river side.

Strumica is located in the south east part of Macedonia and boasts of the fastest growing economy in the country. It has a 90 percent Macedonian population and is famous for the vegetables that it produces. It also has textile factories and a very well developed trade network. You will have a variety of things to experience at Strumica. For the outdoor person, there is the hike up Mt. Belasica. The waterfalls of Smolare and Kolesino are another site worth visiting. However, what stand out among all these are the beautiful monasteries of Vodoca and Veljusa, with their tranquil environment and exquisite frescoes and mosaics. These two Byzantine monasteries are still lived in by the monks and nuns.

This is one of the most popular skiing places in Macedonia. The capacity of its ski lifts and ski chairs were increased recently. Starting at 1960 m and ending at 1250 m, the ski trail can handle a 5,000 strong capacity per hour. The centre is now equipped with two double lift chairs, one single lift chair (1100 person capacity per hour) and ski lifts with synchronised connections.