The only thing that stops mass tourists from traveling to Macedonia is the lack of access to the sea. If a beach vacation is not an end in itself for you, you can spend your vacation in the picturesque and hospitable Balkan republic perfectly! Fresh mountain air and varied cuisine, all dishes of which are prepared from organic products; moderate climate and the ability to travel without a visa if you are a citizen of Russia; short and inexpensive flight - there are enough arguments in favor. When asked what to see in Macedonia, residents of the country answer in detail and in detail. They are justly proud of their sights - both man-made and natural.
Top 15 attractions in Macedonia
Ohrid amphitheater
The ancient Hellenic amphitheater in the old part of Ohrid dates back to the 2nd century BC. The amphitheater was built between two hills. This made it possible to protect from the winds and provided excellent acoustics.
The Roman Empire used the building for its own purposes. The arena hosted gladiatorial fights and public executions.
Today, tourists have the opportunity to explore the ruins of the amphitheater and even listen to performances by opera artists. At the end of the twentieth century, the building began to be used as a theater platform.
Fortress in Skopje
The Venetian fortress of Kale is called a symbol of Macedonian national pride. Throughout its existence since the 10th century, the defensive structure has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, and the stages of its transformation are of particular interest to tourists who are fond of history.
The strong walls of the Kale fortress are interspersed with a dozen square watchtowers. Steps lead up to the top and the outer sides of the walls are accessible for inspection.
To get there: on foot from pl. Macedonia on st. Orsay Nikolova.
Ohrid lake
The oldest body of water in the Balkans, Lake Ohrid, was formed at least 5 million years ago. It is considered a national treasure of Macedonia. In numbers, the lake looks like this:
- The average depth of the reservoir is 150 meters.
- The depth of water transparency reaches 20 meters.
- Water surface area - 358 sq. km, and the size of the lake is 30x15 km.
A tourist infrastructure has been established on the shores of Lake Ohrid. You can rent a room in a comfortable hotel, rent a yacht or boat, sunbathe on the equipped beaches.
The fortress of king Samuel
The ancient fortress in Ohrid was erected on the highest point of the city by order of King Samuel. In the 10th century, the Bulgarian ruler moved the capital of his dominions to Ohrid.
The length of the fortress walls is about three kilometers. Two dozen watchtowers rise above the fort, and from their height offer panoramic views of the city and the surrounding area.
In summer, the entire cultural life of Ohrid moves to the fortress of King Samuel. Music festivals, creative events, exhibitions and celebrations are held here.
Matka Canyon
A well-known Macedonian natural landmark and resting place for residents of the country is the Matka Canyon near Skopje. The canyon is formed by the Treska River. On its banks you can look at the Orthodox monasteries that have survived in Macedonia since the Middle Ages:
- Monastery of St. Andrew, built in 1389. The main value is the frescoes of Metropolitan Jovan.
- The monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos also dates back to the XIV century. Built on the left bank of the Treska River.
- On the top of the cliff above the mountain gorge rises the monastery of St. Nicholas. The date of construction of the monastery is unknown, but it was first mentioned in the chronicles of the 17th century. A beautiful view of the canyon opens from the walls of the monastery.
Hunting and fishing are allowed in the canyon area; on the shore you can rent a boat or kayak. There are several caves in the rocks on the sides of the canyon. The most famous is Vrelo with bizarre stalactites and two underground lakes.
Mavrovo
Mavrovo National Park in the west of the republic is well known to fans of winter sports. The ski resort of the same name is located next to it. In the park itself, rare tree species and the highest mountain ranges in Macedonia Korab, Deshat and Shar are protected.
Wild ducks and geese live on the shores of Lake Mavrovskoye in the national park, and in total in the park you can see about 1000 species of plants, more than half of which are endemic. The fauna is represented by lynxes, chamois, bears, golden eagles and peregrine falcons.
Basilica of St. Sophia
The temple in Ohrid, built during the First Bulgarian Kingdom, became a symbol of the adoption of Christianity. There is information that the first church was erected on this site in the middle of the 9th century. The Turks, who occupied the Balkans in the XIV century, rebuilt the basilica, turning it into a mosque, but then the temple was rid of alien architectural and religious features.
In the Church of St. Sophia, priceless frescoes of the 11th-13th centuries, made by Byzantine painters, have been preserved.
Monastery of St. Panteleimon
Legend has it that the Panteleimon monastery in Plaosnik was built by Saint Clement, who was engaged in missionary work in the 9th century. The disciple of Cyril and Methodius was sent to Ohrid by the Bulgarian Tsar Boris I.
The monastery served as an educational and educational center, and St. Panteleimon became its patron. The monastery taught reading and writing and Slavic literature. The disciples of Saint Clement carried the knowledge of Slavic writing throughout the entire territory of the Balkan Peninsula and Eastern Europe. Scientists call Panteleimonov Monastery the first university in the Old World.
St. John's Church
The church of St. John the Evangelist rises on a cliff above the Kaneo beach on Lake Ohrid. The exact date of the construction of the temple is unknown, but documentary evidence claims that it stood on this site already in the 13th century before the emergence of the Ottoman Empire.
The project was influenced by Armenian and Byzantine architectural traditions. Few of the surviving icons date from the mid to late 17th century. The dome and walls are painted with frescoes, among which the work of an unknown artist "Christ the Almighty" stands out.
Cinema
In the north of Macedonia, you can look at the oldest archaeological site, which is almost 4,000 years old. According to historians, the megalithic structure at Kokino was built to observe the starry sky, although this claim has not yet received sufficient evidence.
Megaliths of Kokino are located on the Tatichev Kamen hill at an altitude of more than a kilometer above sea level. The radius of the megalithic observatory is 100 meters.
Artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age - stone millstones and ceramic utensils - were found in Kokino.
Markov Cooley
You will also find ancient structures northwest of the town of Prilep, near the village of Varosh. The preserved ruins of the fortress and stone towers date back to the 13th century. King Marco lived in a stone palace. During the Ottoman raids, the local population took refuge in the fortress. The meter-thick walls, watchtowers and guardrooms that have survived to this day make it possible to imagine the scale of the medieval building.
Museum of Macedonia
One of the oldest museums in the country has united three expositions under its roof: archaeological, historical and ethnological. The Museum of Macedonia was opened in 1924 in the Old Bazaar in Skopje.
The collection contains many interesting exhibits. In the halls of the museum you will see archaeological finds of the Stone and Bronze Ages, household items, national costumes, dishes, medieval weapons.
The art history department displays works by Macedonian painters.
Skopje Museum
For the first time, the halls of the Skopje Museum were opened to visitors in 1949. The collections are housed in the old railway station building. The main theme of the museum is the history of the city.
The permanent exhibition is called A Walk in the Past. It covers a huge period - from the Middle Ages to the present day. The exhibitions "History of the Old Bazaar", "Illegal Weapons" and a collection of local history finds attract no less attention of visitors.
Several halls of the museum are dedicated to the work of contemporaries. The museum invites visitors to see Macedonia through the eyes of the photographer Blagoj Drnkov and admire Japanese graphics, a collection of which the Macedonians received as a gift from colleagues from the Land of the Rising Sun.
Museum of the Macedonian Struggle
The exposition of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle is dedicated to the struggle for statehood and sovereignty. The main exhibit is the Declaration of Independence of the Republic, exhibited at the very entrance to the pavilion.
History connoisseurs will be able to replenish their knowledge in the museum. Thematic exhibitions are dedicated to the armed uprising against the Ottoman invaders, the Macedonian uprising of the mid-19th century, the revolutionary organization of Macedonia, the Balkan and world wars and the people's liberation struggle in the 40s of the 20th century.
The museum hosts many cultural events: concerts and lectures, seminars and scientific conferences.
Despite its not too great worldwide fame, the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle has received many awards and even received special recognition among colleagues in Europe for great achievements in preserving national treasures.
A stone bridge
The famous Stone Bridge over the Vardar River divides the Macedonian capital into the Old and New Towns. The symbol of the republic even adorns the flag of the city of Skopje. The exact age of the bridge is unknown, but historians believe that it was laid during the Roman Empire. Other scholars lean towards the XIV century, but one way or another, Skopje's Stone Bridge is worthy of the attention of tourists.
12 semicircular arches support the 200-meter structure, and the height of the bridge reaches 6 meters. Local residents assure that a coin thrown from the Stone Bridge will bring good luck and help fulfill desires.
