2,500 years of history...

More than thousands of reasons to...

Discover Macedonia
The legacy of Alexander the Great
And much more...
 Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia offers an intriguing variety of tourism opportunities. Explore its pristine great
outdoors, and enjoy local hospitality in traditional villages. Marvel at the country’s sheer wealth of
historic sites and remarkable, varied architecture. At the same time, vibrant festivals and nightlife,
urban amenities and luxury are also easy to find in Macedonia.

Macedonia (the Republic of) is a landlocked

country in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula,
population 2 million.
With a total area of 25,333 km², the Republic
of Macedonia is a country in Southeastern Europe
with geographic coordinates 41°50′N 22°00′E. The
Republic has some 748 km of boundaries, shared
with Serbia (62 km) to the North, Kosovo (159 km) to
the northwest, Bulgaria (148 km) to the east,
Greece (228 km) to the south, and Albania (151 km)
to the west. The country represents a major
transportation corridor from Western and Central
Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to
Western Europe.
It is a landlocked country, but has three
natural lakes: Ohrid Lake, Prespa Lake and Dojran
Lake. Therefore, it has a water area of 477 km². The
land area is 24,856 km².
The Republic of Macedonia lies in the Macedonia
northwestern third of the wider geographical region
of Macedonia, with about 40% of the region's
population. The capital is Skopje, with 506,926
inhabitants according to a 2004 census, and there
are a number of smaller cities, notably Bitola,
Kumanovo, Prilep, Tetovo, Ohrid, Veles, Štip,
Kočani, Gostivar and Strumica. It has more than 50
lakes and sixteen mountains higher than 2,000
meters (6,550 ft).

Macedonia is ideal for Balkan bus tours starting from Serbia which could continue to Macedonia,
Albania, Bulgaria and Greece. Or for Balkan bus tours starting from Croatia which could continue to Monte
Negro, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece.

Getting to Macedonia
By air: International airports in Skopje and Ohrid connect Macedonia with several major European cities.
Close regional airports in Belgrade, Sofia and Thessaloniki can also be used, as they are all within a few hours’
drive from Macedonia.
By train: An international train, operating twice daily, connects Ljubljana, Slovenia and Thessaloniki, Greece
by way of Macedonia. Stops include Tabanovce (the Macedonia-Serbia border crossing point), Kumanovo,
Skopje, Veles, Gradsko, Negotino, Demir Kapija, and Gevgelija (Greek border crossing point), as well as a few
small villages. An east-west railway to connect Bulgaria with Macedonia is at present under construction.
By car: The international highway E-75 runs north-south from Serbia to Greece, bisecting Macedonia. This is
the most common route for overland tourists to take for entering Macedonia. There are also good roads
connecting the country with Bulgaria to the east and Albania to the west.
By bus: A number of bus lines connect Macedonia with all neighboring countries and other European cities.
Buses are frequent, and offer relatively inexpensive fares and professional service.
 Republic of Macedonia

Ohrid - the city and the lake

Ohrid, immortal Ohrid – a kingdom of light and

water, a repository of ancient ruins from Macedonia’s
earlier kingdoms – is the sublime lakeside town that for
many represents the culmination of the Macedonian
experience.
Ohrid’s major attractions are all located within a
remarkably concentrated and eminently walkable area,
among and above the narrow streets of the Old Town, itself
lined with restaurants and cafes perfectly suited for
relaxing on cool summer evenings. Ohrid’s many café bars
and nightclubs also make for vibrant nightlife.

Ohrid is notable for having once had 365

churches, one for each day of the year, and is
referred to as the Macedonian Jerusalem. The
city is rich in picturesque houses and
monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is
located southwest of Skopje, west of Resen and
Bitola, and east of Elbasan and Tirana in Albania.
The Cyrillic alphabet, official in
Macedonia, is based on the alphabet developed
by two Macedonian brothers, St Cyril (thus -
Cyrillic) and St Methodius, in the 9th century. It
was taught by their disciples at a monastery in
Ohrid, from whence it spread across the eastern
Slavic world.

Czar Samoil’s fortress in Ohrid

Czar Samoil fought the Byzantines for control of
Macedonia in the 10th Century. After the initial success, he
lost a fateful battle at Belasica (in the southeast of today's
Republic of Macedonia). He got away, but 14,000 of his
soldiers didn't. The Byzantines had all 14,000 blinded. All,
but every one hundredth prisoner, who were spared an eye
each so that they could lead the blinded army back to
Samoil, who - according to legend - died upon seeing the
horrifying sight.
 Republic of Macedonia

Although easily accessible in the heart of southeastern Europe,

Macedonia’s ancient sites and natural beauty
remain largely undiscovered.
Lake Ohrid
Lake Ohrid is the largest and most beautiful
of Macedonia’s three tectonic lakes. Its
astonishingly clean, clear waters together with the
serene stillness of its mountain setting have
captivated visitors since prehistoric times. The
lake is enormous, at some 30 kilometers (18 miles)
long and up to 288 meters (945 feet) deep.While
the lake is fed by water from three rivers, most of
Ohrid’s water comes from another lake- Prespa,
on the other side of the Galicica Mountain. Being at
a higher elevation, Prespa spills its water down to
Ohrid through mountain springs, the most
important being Ostrovo near the monastery of St
Naum, and Biljana near Ohrid town.

With its unique flora and fauna characteristic of the

tertiary period (2-4 million years ago), Ohrid is one of
Europe’s great biological reserves. Most of the lake’s
plant and animal species are endemic and unique to
Ohrid. The most famous among these are two types of
Ohrid Trout (letnica and belvica, in Macedonian). Other
unique Ohrid creatures include two types of eel as well as
the bleak, whose scales are used for making the well-
known Ohrid pearl. This treasured jewel is produced
according to a secret method passed down from
generation to generation. Sport fishing attracts many
passionate fishermen from Macedonia, Europe and the
world.

In 1980 Lake Ohrid was proclaimed a place of world cultural and natural inheritance by UNESCO.
 Republic of Macedonia

Mountains & National Parks

The country is situated on a mountainous

territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three
large lakes, each divided by a frontier line. The
Republic of Macedonia is bisected by the Vardar
River.
The Republic's terrain is mostly rugged,
located between the Šar Mountains and Osogovo,
which frame the valley of the Vardar river. Three
large lakes — Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Dojran
Lake — lie on the southern borders of the Republic,
bisected by the frontiers with Albania and Greece.
Ohrid is considered to be one of the oldest lakes and
bitopes in the world.
The Macedonian scenic mountain belong to two
different ranges: Dinarska and Rodopska. The Dinarska
range is the oldest with subsequent erosion; the
Rodopska range is younger offering rugged, alpine
scenery. The ten highest mountains in the Republic of
Macedonia are:
Mount Korab 2,764 m 9,396 ft
Šar Mountains 2,747 m 9,012 ft
Baba Mountain 2,601 m 8,533 ft
Jakupica 2,540 m 8,333 ft
Nidze 2,521 m 8,271 ft
Deshat 2,373 m 7,785 ft
Galichica 2,288 m 7,507 ft
Stogovo 2,273 m 7,457 ft
Jablanica 2,257 m 7,405 ft

Lose yourself in Macedonia’s myths and its untouched mountains, feel the warmth of its people,
enjoy fine accommodation and exotic food, hear new rhythms,
dive in to centuries of unbroken tradition.
 Republic of Macedonia

Archeological sites Churches and Monasteries

There are between two and

Most of the Macedonian
three thousand documented
monasteries, built in various
archeological sites in Macedonia.
periods, and particularly those
What an adventure this would be,
built between the 11th and 15th -
to be part of their discovery!
16th centuries, have been
The Megalithic Observatory
completely preserved until
Kokino,a special mountain
today. The most significant
sanctuary from the Bronze Age.
churches are in the Ohrid area.
The “stone town”, is situated by Cave churches
the Kuklica village in the Kratovo
area.The stone figures that are These very specific
called Dolls by the local monuments of art and
population are 10 million years history, rare in the world,
old. Number of neolithic but numerous on the
(Trebenista near Ohrid - ancient shores of Lake Ohrid,
graves loaded with gold and present an exceptional
silver, burial gifts fit for a king) and c h a l l e n g e f o r a r t
other significant archaeological h i s t o r i a n s a n d f o r
sites such as Bargala (Shtip), admirers of ancient
Heraclea Lyncestis (Bitola), culture. Built on high
Scupi (Skopje), the Samuil’s inaccessible spots, near
Fortress and Plaoshnik (Ohrid), caves, far from human
Vardarski Rid (Gevgelija) and settlements, isolated in
much more... silence...
Tradition Macedonian Icons
The world-famous icon
collection in the Ohrid church of
St. Clement comprises some
thirty medieval icons, the oldest
from the 12th century. The
collection is the property of the
National Museum in Ohrid.
On one day every July, St.
Peter’s Day, locals and tourists
alike are invited to attend the
traditional Macedonian wedding
celebrations at Galicnik, a
legendary old village in the
western mountains near
Mavrovo. There are also several
traditional carnivals taking place
in Macedonia, among which the
most famous is the Vevchani
carnival.
Some well-preserved houses
in the picturesque local
architectural style can be seen in
the town of Ohrid. Built in the 19th
century, these dwellings hang
over the street, each successive
story projecting further than the
one below.
 Republic of Macedonia

Interesting facts about Macedonia

Macedonia's Lake Ohrid is one of the deepest and oldest in Europe.
Ohrid Lake, lakes at mountain Pelister called "Pelister Eyes", and caves "Vrelo" at Matka are
the three natural beauties that citizens have selected to represent Macedonia at the global
campaign on the new seven wonders of nature. These three natural beauties will be proposed
by the Macedonian supporting committee, which is supported by the Ministry of Economy.
King Perdica founded the Macedonian Kingdom in the year 653 B.C.
Macedonia has literally thousands of sites where relics can be found going back 3800 years.
All fruits and vegetables are grown organically in Macedonia; tomatoes and peppers are
legendary.
The reign on Alexander the great is in the period 336 323 B.C.
Tresca River canyon at Matka features almost perpendicular scarps that rival the monoliths at
major US and Australian national parks.
The brothers Cyril and Methodius created the first Slavonic alphabet in the year 855.
The mountain town of Galicnik, halfway between Skopje and Ohrid, features a worldwide
wedding festival every July, where couples travel as mutual “chosen ones” to tie the knot in
colorful traditional garb amid festival joy and celebration
There are 346 registered caves in Macedonia - a heaven for adventurers and high-adrenaline
lovers.
The resting place of the famous Greek Zorba is in the city graveyards of Butel - Skopje.
Mother Theresa was born in Skopje (1910).

And much more....

Links:
http://www.historyofmacedonia.org
http://www.360macedonia.com
http://www.unet.com.mk/ancient-macedonians/neolithic.htm
http://www.unet.com.mk/ancient-macedonians/neolithic.htm
Http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/608
http://www.see-heritage.org/macedonia.htm
http://www.mpc.org.mk/English/vGal.asp?kw=Churches&Page=1
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Macedonia
http://photo.macedonia.org/
http://www.soros.org.mk/konkurs/008/cave.htm