CRADEL

OF CULTURE

LAND

AND

NATURE

MACEDONIA

Ministry of EconomyTourism Department

Publisher: Ministry of EconomyAutor of the text: Danilo KocevskiAutor of the photographs: www.dzingo.comProduction: Skenpoint

CRADEL OF CULTURELAND AND NATURE

The existence of Macedonia can be traced as far back as the times of the Bible, which says that during his first journey

out of Asia, St. Paul the Apostle went to preach in Macedonia among the Macedonians. In his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude the ”apos-tle” of contemporary world literature Gabriel Garcia Marquez mentions “the wise alchemists of Macedonia”. Several legends try to explain the origin of the name Macedonia. According to some, the country received its name after its king, Macedon. On the other hand, the schol-

ars claim that the name has its origin in the old Macedonian words makos (big, high), and don (land), which, when put together, render the meaning of a big, high, mountainous land.

Nowadays, the Republic of Macedonia is a veritable treasury of culture and art. As hardly anywhere in the world, this region treasures a large number of historical monuments: church-es, icons, monasteries, archaeological sites, mosques, old books and other artefacts. The Macedonian collections of icons are acknowl-edged to be among the best in the world, of

the same rank as the collections of Sinai, Mt. Atos and Russia. The oldest easel icons origi-nate from the late 10th century, but the terra-cotta icons found at the site of Vinichko Kale, near the town of Vinitsa in Eastern Macedonia, are a real rarity. They present unique examples of early Christian art from the period of the late 4th to mid 6th century.

The first Slavic alphabet and literature also have their roots in Macedonia. The cul-tural mission carried out by the brothers Ss. Cyril and Methodius of Salonika has been of crucial significance for all Slavic people. Taking the language spoken by the Macedonian Slavs from the vicinity of Salonika as its basis, the two brothers devised the Glagolitic alphabet and translated into Old Slavic the most important ecclesiastic books necessary for the religious

services and for their mission of converting the pagan Slavs to Christianity.

Macedonian churches and monasteries have a long tradition. The frescoes in the small church of St. George built in the 12th century near the village of Kurbinovo, in the vicinity of Prespa, together with the frescoes in the church of St. Panteleimon near Skopje, dating also from the 12th century, present the highest achieve-ments of Byzantine art from that period. Along-side these, one must not omit the church of St. Leontius in the village of Vodocha, the Church of the Holy Mother of God in the village of Ve-lyusa, both in Strumitsa region, the church of St. George in the village of Staro Nagorichane, Kumanovo region, the Monastery of Treskavets, Prilep region, the Monastery of Lesnovo (14th century), Kratovo region, and the Monastery

of St. John Bigorski (19th century), Gostivar re-gion, whose woodcarved iconostasis presents a masterpiece of the Miyak wood-carvers.

Since ancient times Macedonia has had an exceptional strategic position on the Balkan Peninsula and in Southern Europe. Its central position on the Balkans provides excellent communication. The borders of the Republic measure 849 km and it occupies an area of 25 713 km2. The population of the Republic of Macedonia are the citizens: Macedonians, Alba-nians, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs, Bosnians, Romanians and others. According to the last census the Republic of Macedonia has about 2,050,000 in-habitants. Commensurate with its Constitution, it is an autonomous and independent civic and democratic state where all the inhabitants, re-gardless of their ethnic origin, have the same

civil rights and freedoms.The road communications make the main

transport network in the Republic. The basic roads were built as early as the Roman times. The Roman Via Egnatia led from Rome, through Ohrid and Salonika, to Constantinople. Nowa-days the main international highway, the E-75, which starts in Ostende and goes via Brussels, Nurneberg, Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade, passes through Skopje and ends in Athens. The air transport facilities are also of great impor-tance. There are two airports in Macedonia, in Skopje and in Ohrid. They are used not only by the Macedonian airlines but also by other for-eign airlines. The airports in some of the neigh-bouring countries are only a short drive away. All this speaks in favour of Macedonia as an easily accessible area in the central part of the

Balkans. The postal service makes communica-tions with the world fast and easy through its numerous branches throughout the country.

The Republic of Macedonia abounds in nat-ural beauties and rarities. Many have named it “the pearl of the Balkans” while others compare its beauty, configuration and climate with that of Switzerland. Despite the existence of many valleys, the numerous hills and mountains give it an average altitude of 830 metres. Macedo-nia is exceptionally rich in water resources. It is often called “the land of lakes” because of the many tectonic, glacial lakes and man-made lakes. There are about fifty large and small lakes in the country, the most significant ones being the three tectonic ones the lakes of Ohrid, Pre-spa and Doyran.

The rivers of Macedonia form three ba-

sins, the largest one being the Aegean basin with its main river – the Vardar. It rises near the village of Vrutok in the foothills of Mount Vlainitsa in the northwest of Macedonia and is 350 km long, 264 km of which flow through Macedonia. It enters the Aegean Sea at the Gulf of Salonica. The Vardar is the main source of hidroenergy in Macedonia. The “Vardar Valley” project, which is still in its early stages, will be of great importance for the prosperity of the country. The rivers Treska, Pchinya and Tsrna are some of the Vardar’s tributaries, while the Black Drim, which runs out of the Ohrid Lake, belongs to the Adriatic basin. It is renowned for its beauty, together with the picturesque river Radika, which springs from the Shara Moun-tains and flows into Lake Debar.

The flora and fauna of the Republic of Mace-

donia are amazingly heterogeneous. Here the Mediterranean flora goes hand-in-hand with the plant species of the Euro-Siberian regions. The high mountains, thick forests and lush pas-tures have encouraged the development of cattle breeding. Thus many works of art show Macedonia as an idyllic place with domesti-cated scenery in the valleys, but others present its impressive, awesome mountain landscapes. The mountains are the natural habitat of cham-ois, bear, deer, boar, wolf, and many other ani-mals. Because of the great variety of plant and animal species, many areas in the mountains have been proclaimed national parks and for-ests protected by the law. One of these is the mountain of Galichitsa (2,225 metres).

It is a natural border between the Ohrid and Prespa plains with a peak from which a breath-

taking view can be seen of both lakes. The na-tional park of Mavrovo is situated on Mount Bistra and is rich in rare flora and fauna, crystal-clear waters and the wonderful landscapes of Lake Mavrovo. The Pelister national park (2,600) is located on one of the most beautiful moun-tains of Macedonia. Its symbol is a rare variety of pines called molika. The abundance of Medi-terranean flora is due to the closeness of the Aegean Sea, which is only 60 km away, and the Adriatic Sea, 80 km away from the western bor-ders of the Republic. As a result of all these in-fluences, there are three types of climate in the country: Mediterranean, moderate continental and mountainous.

The convenient climate and the rare plant and animal life are ideal for the development of mountain tourism. There are several win-

ter sports centres, which are well known even abroad: Popova Shapka, Mavrovo, Krushevo, Pelister, Golak and Ponikva. These centres pro-vide all the necessary facilities for sports and recreation such as comfortable resorts and hotels, cable cars and ski lifts. Popova Shapka can accommodate 2,000 tourists, Mavrovo about 1,200, and Krushevo (the highest town in Macedonia with an altitude of 1,250 metres) about 600. Pelister has a modern hotel and well-equipped mountain lodges which can ac-commodate about 500 visitors. Golak and Poni-kva are closely linked localities with their own infrastructure and resorts, which offer comfort-able accommodation and good sports and rec-reation facilities.

The numerous mountains, forests, rivers and lakes provide outstanding conditions for

hunting and angling and present a great tour-ist attraction. The hunting reservations are rich in game and are accorded a special care. Village tourism is developing too. The picturesque vil-lage of Galichnik, situated on Mount Bistra at an altitude of 200 metres attracts many eager visitors every summer to see the traditional Galichnik weddings performed according to the long-cherished Macedonian customs. The village is also known for its sheepfolds and farms, first class dairy products and valuable hand-woven rugs. The position of the country and its configuration, climate and hydrography provide exceptionally favourable conditions for the development of tourism. However, transit tourism must not be neglected since important arterial roads connecting central Europe with the Aegean, the Black Sea and the East Medi-

terranean lead across Macedonia.Macedonian spas have been well known

since ancient times. There are more than 60 thermal springs tapped at several spas.

The best known are Katlanovo Spa near Skopje, Proevo Spa near Kumanovo, Kosovrasti Spa near Debar, Bansko Spa near Strumitsa, Ne-gortsi Spa near Gevgelia, Kezhovitsa Spa near Shtip and Kochani Spa. These springs of volca-nic origin have medicinal qualities, which can help cure a wide range of diseases of the respi-ratory tract, nervous system, kidneys, digestive and reproduction systems and rheumatism. The temperature of the water ranges from 30°C in Kumanovo Spa to 72°C in Bansko. All these spas are connected with the nearby towns by regular bus services and offer suitable accom-modation.

The territory of Macedonia was inhabited by non-Indo-European dwellers as early as the Neolithic, 4,500 years B.C. After the Indo-Euro-pean tribes settled on the Balkan Peninsula, these regions were inhabited by the ancient Macedonians, Ilyrians, Thracians, and Hellenes. The ancient Macedonians populated the cen-tral part of the Balkans. Ancient Macedonia reached its zenith during the reign of King Philip II and his son Alexander the Great. Under the rule of Philip II Macedonia was united into a strong, centralistic state. Alexander was one of the greatest army commanders and conquer-ors in history and he expanded the borders of his empire from the Adriatic Sea to India and Egypt.

The Romans conquered Macedonia in the 2nd century B.C. In the 4th century A.D. it be-

came a part of the Byzantine Empire, but during the 6th and the 7th centuries it was inhabited by the Slavic tribes of the Berezites, Dragov-ites, Velegizites, Sagudates, Rinhines and oth-ers, who created specific territorial units called sclavines.

The late l0th century was marked by the creation of a powerful Macedonian kingdom by Tsar Samuel. Its seat was first in Prespa and then in Ohrid. During its reign Rome gave its consent for the foundation of an independent Macedonian church - the Ohrid Patriarchate.

In the 13th century Macedonia was con-quered by Serbia and then in the 14th century by the Ottoman Turks, whose rule stretched through five centuries up to 1912 and the Bal-kan wars. As a consequence of these wars, in 1913 the compact territory of Macedonia was partitioned into three parts, which were given to Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece. The Macedo-nian people took part in the anti-fascist war (1941-45) side by side with the other Yugoslav peoples On the 2nd August 1944, at the meet-ing of ASNOM (Anti-fascist Association for Na-tional Liberation of Macedonia), the Vardar part of Macedonia was proclaimed a legal state and became one of the six federal republics of SFR Yugoslavia. Following the referendum of 1991 the Republic of Macedonia has become an au-tonomous and independent state.

Based on a rich spiritual and cultural tra-dition, the Macedonian national awakening took place during the second half of the 19th century. This was a time of powerful national-istic movements and figures that fought for the revival of culture, such as the Miladinov broth-ers, Grigor Prlichev, Rayko Zhinzifov, Kuzman Shapkarev, Marko Tsepenkov and many others. They paved the way for the national resistance and liberation from the Ottoman occupation, anticipating the coming of the apostle of the Macedonian revolutionary movement - Gotse Delchev, and the famous Ilinden Uprising of 1903, when one of the first republics on the Balkans was proclaimed in Krushevo. Although it was short-lived, its existence spoke of the powerful desire of the Macedonian people for independence.

The towns in Macedonia were formed in the course of different periods: in antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Ottoman occupation. They all share such common features as: a city wall, an upper and a lower gate, a market place,

caravanserais, inns, bridges, etc. These features are typical of Skopje, Bitola, Ohrid, Veles, Shtip, Kumanovo, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Sveti Nikole, Radovish, Kavadartsi, Kichevo, Tetovo, Gostivar, Strumitsa, Gevgelia, Krushevo, Resen and oth-ers.

Numerous ancient towns flourished on the territory of Macedonia. The town of Stobi was situated in the vicinity of Veles. It was first mentioned as a settlement in the 4th century B.C. when Philip II opened a campaign against the Paeonians. It was a prosperous town with delicate mosaics, palaces, temples, baths and a theatre. The ancient town of Heraclea Lyncaes-tis was built south of Bitola. It thrived for over 1000 years, from the mid-4th century B.C. up to the 6th century A.D. The town of Skupi near Skopje was found at the time when Macedonia was a Roman province and it was a religious and economic centre of that area for many years. Stobi, Heraclea and Skupi were highly urbanised towns with streets, aqueducts, the-atres, forums, baths and even villas with central heating.

The main administrative centre of the Re-public of Macedonia today is Skopje, with a population of over 600,000 inhabitants. It is a town with a 2,000 year long tradition and repre-sents an exquisite mixture of Eastern and West-ern cultures, a place where many roads and civilisations have met and mingled. The name of the ancient town of Skupi located between the villages of Zlokuchani and Bardovtsi, was first mentioned when the Romans conquered the Dardanians and established their own rule in the area. A disastrous earthquake destroyed it in 518, but the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, who had been born in this region, soon raised a new town, called Justiniana Prima, which in-herited the ecclesiastic and legal significance of its predecessor. After years of persistent sieges, the Slavs eventually entered Skupi in the 7th century. The town acquired its characteristic oriental appearance after being conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1392. Nevertheless, it has never lost its Christian features, which have withstood all historical turmoils. Due to the spreading of the plague this prosperous town was fired in the 17th century by order of the Austrian general Piccolomini, but by the 19th century commerce in the town was flourishing again and provided an excellent basis for the revival of the Macedonian bourgeois class and

intelligentsia. After World War II Skopje became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Mace-donia, one of the federal states of Yugoslavia. Today it is the capital of the independent Re-public of Macedonia.

It is a city of new boulevards, bridges, shopping malls and cultural centres, but it has retained the spirit of ancient times in the well-known Old Bazaar and the numerous historical vestiges from its past: the Church of the Holy Saviour (a medieval structure restored in the 19th century), the church and Monastery of St. Panteleimon in Nerezi (12th century), the Sul-tan Murat and Mustapha Pasha mosques (both from the l5th century), Kurshumli Caravanserai (16th century), the Stone Bridge (15th century, built on Roman foundations), the old fortress, Kale, and many other sites.

The old part of the town is undoubtedly the main tourist attraction, but Skopje has also many modem hotels, national restaurants where the visitors can enjoy traditional Mace-donian hospitality, theatres, museums, galler-ies, nightclubs, bars, casinos and numerous cafes.

With its 100,000 inhabitants Bitola is the second largest town in Macedonia. It has pre-served its traditional architecture and the spirit of old Macedonian crafts and trades. The glamour of old times, when Bitola was a widely known consular and diplomatic town (1870 -1913), can still be sensed in the air. Bitola has an excellent theatre, notable publishing houses and art galleries which are well worth seeing. Some cultural events of world importance take place here. The closeness of Baba Mountain and the Pelister National Park provide excellent conditions for the development of winter and summer tourism.

The town of Ohrid with its lake, its natural beauties, and its historical and cultural heritage is a true pearl of the Republic of Macedonia and enjoys the protection of UNESCO. The unique flora and fauna of the lake make it one of the largest biological reservations in Europe and pose a rare curiosity for explorers, who have named the lake “a fresh-water sea”. It covers an area of 358 km2 and the greatest depth mea-sured in it is 228.7 m. Its crystal clear water provides an extraordinary translucency of 215 m. Some of the species, which live in the lake are relics of the ancient plant and animal life which used to thrive throughout Euro-Asia, but

today can be found only in the Tiberius Lake in the Middle East and the Lake Balkal in Siberia. The fish life in the lake, with its 17 distinct spe-cies, is truly amazing. The best known are the two kinds of endemic Ohrid trout, letnica and belvica (Salmothymus ohridanus), and the eel, which can reach up to 1.5 m in length. These fish are a real challenge to anglers and a treat for gastronomes, especially for those who know how to prepare the trout in the famous “Ohrid way”.

Ohrid is a town-museum and a cultural trea-sury of Macedonia. It has often been referred to as the “Balkan Jerusalem” Situated on the shore of the lake, it abounds in natural and spiritual beauties. According to Herbert Read, an emi-nent British art historian, Ohrid is “a notable bridge of Europen art”. The antique name of the town is Lychnidos. It became known for the work of Ss. Clement and Nahum, the disciples of the first Slavic educators and enlighteners Ss. Cyril and Methodius. Ss. Clement and Nahum were the founders of the famous “Ohrid Liter-ary School” It was a highly developed ecclesias-tic, educational and literary centre, among the first in Europe. Of the numerous cultural and historical monuments in Ohrid, a few deserve special attention. the Church of St. Sophia (11th century), which is the most eminent medieval monument in Macedonia, the Church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos (13th century), situated in the same complex as the famous Gallery of Icons, the church ofSt. John of Kaneo (13th century), with a wonderful view of the lake, the Monastery of St. Nahum (10th cen-tury), built on a steep cliff above the lake 30 km from the town, where St. Nahum lived, worked and was buried. All these churches have valu-able frescoes, rare examples of medieval art and are the object of study for many internationally recognised historians of the medieval period. The town is dominated by the monumental Fortress of Samuel situated on the top of a hill. It was one of the official seats of the first Slavic Macedonian state and has been the ancient symbol of Ohrid ever since.

The house of the Robevi and the house of Urania, located in the town centre, are real masterpieces of old town architecture from the 19th century. The Old Bazaar is full of shops and stores as well as craft workshops selling a wide range of merchandise including the souvenirs typical of this area. The famous Ohrid “pearl”

and silver filigree work. Every summer the town hosts a prestigious international festival of clas-sical music and theatre. Visitors who decide to travel southward towards the Albanian border will discover the unique splendour of the sur-rounding countryside. The crystal-blue waters of the lake mingle with mountain views, and forests with crisp fresh air. The village of Ve-lestovo, overlooking the town from the slopes of the nearby mountain of Petrino, has a mag-nificent view of the lake. It offers great potential for picnics, village tourism and encounters with typical Macedonian customs and traditions. Further to the south are the lovely beaches of Goritsa and St. Stephen. One of the finest parts of the Ohrid riviera, the Gradishte peninsula with its spacious and well-organised campsite, lies between the two picturesque fishing vil-lages of Peshtani and Trpeytsa. The restaurants in these villages offer delicious fish specialities and giomlezets (traditional pie baked on em-bers) The area of St. Nahum, with its sandy beaches, fresh-water springs the sources of the Black Drim and the church and Monastery of St. Nahum, near the Albanian border, is a real heaven on earth. Camping lovers can find ac-commodation in the exceptionally well-man-aged campsite bearing the same name. This part of Lake Ohrid shelters the most exotic cave churches in Macedonia: The Holy Mother of God, near the village of Peshtani, and St. Stephen, near Goritsa. Ohrid offers excellent accommodation in hotels, private houses and camping sites situated on its finest beaches.

The second “pearl” of Lake Ohrid, the town of Struga, which is only 14 km away from Ohrid, is host to the international poetry fes-tival known as the “Struga Poetry Evenings”. This town arouses one’s admiration with its old architecture and its many picturesque traces of old tradition and culture. One of the most beautiful rivers in Macedonia, the Black Drim, having passed across the lake all the way from its springs in St Nahum, emerges again from the lake in Struga. The antique name of the town is Enchalon (eel). This location has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Struga is the birthplace of the most eminent representatives of Macedonian culture and national revival in the 19th century, the Miladinov brothers. The Church of the Holy Mother of God, the Mon-astery in Kalishta with its exquisitely depicted biblical scenes, and the cave church of St Atha-

nasius are only some of the places worth seeing in Struga and its surroundings. This area is also renowned for its fine beaches, excellent hotels and campsites.

The hotels in the town and its vicinity can welcome over 11,000 guests. Comfortable accommodation is also provided in private houses where the hospitable hosts provide everything to make their guests feel at home.

The basin of Lake Prespa is another popular tourist desti-nation. The extraordinary, wild and unique beauty of this lake attracted the Macedonian tsar Samuel to build his first seat in this place. The lake, which consists of two parts, Small and Big Prespa, covers an area of 274 km2 and its greatest depth is 18.76 m. There are 11 distinct kinds of fish that live in the lake, among which are carp and the small, but delicious fish called nivichka. Lake Prespa offers peace and exotic nature and is ideal for a good rest. Several camp sites, children’s resorts and hotels in the tour-ist centres of Oteshevo and Pretor provide comfortable accom-modation.

The smallest of the Macedonian tectonic lakes, Lake Doyran, is situated in the southernmost part of the country. Its unique features set it apart from the others. It measures only 9 km at its longest, and 7 km at its broadest part, and covers an area of 43.1 km2 The greatest depth in the lake is 10 m. Due to its mild cli-mate and warm water (28°C in summer), it is considered to have medicinal qualities. This lake is teeming with fish: bleak, carp, catfish and chub, a real angler’s paradise! The ancient method of fishing with the aid of the cormorant, still practised on this lake, is a rare sight that can seldom be found elsewhere in the world. There are several hotels, resorts and camping sites on the shore of this lake, too.

National folklore and traditional arts and crafts are still cherished in Macedonia. Numerous folklore groups have made Macedonian songs and dances famous throughout the world. The Macedonian oral tradition played a significant role in the continuation of folk poetry through centuries. The finely embroi-dered national costumes have been an expression of women’s individual artistic skills and of the collective aesthetic creativity. These extremely attractive costumes can be seen during the Bal-kan Folklore Festival, traditionally held in Ohrid every summer. The embroidery in red and black linen, cotton or hemp thread

gives an original local colour to the costumes, which are still worn in some of the Macedonian villages and on market days in Struga. The pal-ette of the national embroidery has been an inspiration to many contemporary painters. The numerous old craft shops, some of which can still be seen in the old market places, such as coppersmiths, silversmiths, coopers, gun-smiths, kaftan tailors, carpenters, cobblers, blacksmiths and goldsmiths, have played an important part in preserving the tradition and the spirit of Macedonian people.

Macedonian cuisine specialities attract the attention of all foreign visitors. The Turkish chronicler Evlia Chelebi, who visited Macedonia in the 17th century, notes that the people there were “big gourmands” and especially mentions “the Lamb kebab prepared in a special way and the various fish specialities”. Macedonian

cuisine cannot do without the national dishes which grace the table- yaniya, shketo, rice cas-serole, pindjur, baked beans, turli-tava, taratur, grilled meat, fish dishes, pastrmaliya, and vari-ous soups. Macedonia has exceptionally good conditions for the production of quality wines, the best among many being the wines from the Tikvesh region.

Shopping centres and bazaars lined with shops well supplied with all kinds of goods can be found in all towns and tourist centres throughout Macedonia. Some of the local craftsmen offer their products, too such as: em-broidery, filigree work, handmade leather, fur and woollen products, pottery and gold and silver jewellery. Macedonian vegetable mar-kets are traditionally teeming with all kinds of seasonal fruits and vegetables and imported products from all meridians. Many specialised

shops offer their various products, ranging from car parts to sports equipment and camp-ing necessities.

The Republic of Macedonia keeps pace with contemporary cultural developments in the world. Many internationally recognised events are held in Macedonia and attract the attention of numerous local and foreign art-ists from all fields of art and culture such as: classical music, jazz, theatre, fine arts, poetry, folklore. Macedonia frequently hosts a variety trade fairs, scientific congresses, symposia and major sport competitions. Everyone in love with natural and artistic rarities, history and old civilisations, mountains and lakes, hunting and angling, old legends and new friendships, good wine and fine food.

WELCOME TO MACEDONIA! WE ARE EXPECTING YOU!

Ministry of Economy:

tel: +389 2 3093 536; 3093 540fax: +389 2 3093 540e-mail: tourism@economy.gov.mkhttp://www.economy.gov.mk