Tourist Attractions & Monuments Northern Macedonia

This artificial lake (Езеро Козјак/Ezero Kozjak) is the largest in the country. Built on the Treska River, it covers 13.5 ^km2 and is 32 km long from south to north, with a maximum width of 400 m and depth of 130 m. Although it is a long way from Makedonski Brod, most of it lies within the municipality. Its southern tip is at the hamlet of Dolna Belica/Долна Белица, 28 km north of the town of Makedonski Brod. The northern part, meanwhile, is part of the Jasen nature reserve (311 ^km2), which also encompasses the Matka canyon on the outskirts of Skopje. The lake was created in 2004, after ten years' work. Sandwiched between the Suva Gora massif (1,857 m above sea level) to the east and the Karadžica massif (2,473 m) to the west, the Treska is held back by the country's highest dam: a 130 m-high arched structure. It is located near the hamlet of Nova Breznica/Нова Брезница. The latter is located in Suva Gora, 71 km northeast of Makedonski Brod.

Dreaded but superb little road. From Nova Breznica, small road no. 302 leads to the dam. It is 13 km long and very narrow, starting at an altitude of 713 m, climbing to 1,049 m before winding its way down to the dam at 495 m. This is one of the most beautiful roads in the region. This is one of the most dangerous roads in the country. But it offers superb panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains. More peaceful is the road that runs along the western shore of the lake under the Karadžica mountain. It is reached by an impressive bridge 18 km north of Dolna Belica. Built in 2003, it has a 358 m-long deck supported by five piers, the highest of which is 64 m high. Once across the bridge, you can reach the lakeside hamlet of Blizansko/Близанско, 3 km to the south. Alternatively, continue north for 7 km. This stretch serves two areas of waterfront villas. The lake is full of fish, and locals come here on weekends to fish for Macedonian trout(Salmo macedonicus), rainbow trout, carp, chub, hotu, barbel, spirlin or eel. The asphalt road then ends, giving way to a track that is difficult to cross without a 4 x 4. But this part of the lake is less interesting than the one to the north-east, near the dam. Route no. 302 is certainly formidable, but here you can enjoy the Jasen nature reserve's well-developed hiking trails and even a panoramic restaurant.

This large cultural center (Центар за Култура/Centar za Kultura) is home to the Manaki Brothers International Film Festival every year in late September or early October. The rest of the year, exhibitions, plays and film screenings take place here. The building was designed by two influential Yugoslav architects, the Slovenian Marko Mušič (b. 1941) and the Macedonian Aleksandar Smilevski (b. 1939), who are also responsible for important buildings in Skopje.

This thermal area (Бања Банско/Banja Bansko) is formed around five hot springs, one of which comes out at 72 °C. They flow into the Salandza basin, where the water still reaches 56 °C. The place houses the remains of Roman baths of the ^third century with ten rooms and portions of walls from 2 to 6.70 m high. These were rediscovered in 1972. There are now two hotels and health centers where rheumatism is treated. The neighboring village of Bansko has about 2,400 inhabitants, 47% of whom are Turks and 32% Macedonians.

Opened in 2014, this museum (Музеј на Дејците на ВМРО/Muzej na Dejcite na VMRO) is housed in the beautiful Andronov House, which dates back to the ^19th century. It is dedicated to the local figures of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO, 1894-1934), which fought for the attachment to Bulgaria and/or the independence of Slavic Macedonia. Designed under the nationalist and populist Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski (2006-2016), it is a bit ridiculous with its wax statues and its big hoofed propaganda. But around it, the neighborhood of Novo Selo is pleasant.

Founded in 1938, this national museum (Музеј Д-Р Никола Незлобински/Muzej D-R Nikola Nezlobinski) houses the natural science collection of Russian-Yugoslav physician Nikola Nezlobinski (1885-1942). Trained in St. Petersburg, Nezlobinski found refuge in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after the Russian Revolution of 1917, and from 1924 was responsible for combating malaria in Struga. His collection includes taxidermized specimens of numerous species from Lake Ohrid, the Prespa lakes and Mount Galičica: butterflies, birds of prey, fish, etc.

This massif is about 60 km long and starts south of Strumica and extends eastward into Greece and Bulgaria. It is called Belasica/Беласица in Macedonian and Bulgarian and Belles/Μπέλλες in Greek. At the junction of the three countries is Mount Tumba, at 1,881 m above sea level, about 26 km southeast of Strumica as the crow flies. But the highest point is Mount Kerkini/Radomir, at 2,031 m above sea level, a little further east, on the Greek-Bulgarian border. In Northern Macedonia, the massif separates the region of Strumica from the lake Dojran. A path allows to connect the two.

This association (Здружението за Туристички Водичи и Придружници на Македонија/Združenieto za Turistički Vodiči i Pridružnici na Makedonija) brings together certified professional guides offering tours in North Macedonia. But it's not very responsive and its website needs updating (list of guides inaccessible, no rates displayed). Allow around 3,700/6,100 MKD (60/100 €) for a guided tour of Skopje for 1-4 people.

Slightly leaning, this 55 m-high tower (Саат-Кула/Saat-Kula) was erected in 1826 to replace an earlier ^17th-century wooden tower. Originally used to indicate prayer times to Prilep's Muslim inhabitants, it was given a Christian cross at its top in 1991. The ashlar structure is almost 39 m high. The bell tower above houses fifteen bells of various sizes and a clock donated by Germany in 1936.

This mosque (Мурат Пашаина Џамија/Murat Paša Džamija, Xhamia e Murat Pashës) is not of major interest, except for its three beautiful Ottoman(türbe) tombs in its cemetery, which date back to the ^18th century. It was built in 1802, on the site of a ^15th century mosque, destroyed during the bombardment of Skopje by the Italian general Piccolomini in 1689. It retains the minaret of the old building. Named after a local governor, it should not be confused with the Sultan-Murat mosque, which is located further east.

Established in 2002, this small, privately owned print shop-museum (Национална Работилница за Рачна Изработка на Хартија/Nacionalna Rabotilnica za Račna Izrabotka na Hartija, National Workshop For Handmade Paper) offers reproductions of old works and documents using a variety of handcrafted techniques. There are demonstrations of papermaking, including a replica of the letterpress developed by Gutenberg in 1440. Sale of handmade paper and various prints.

This national museum founded in 1926 (Природонаучен Музеј на Република Македонија/Prirodonaučen Muzej na Republika Makedonija) has been housed since 1969 in an austere five-storey concrete building at the entrance to City Park and along Ilinden Boulevard. A rich collection of the country's geology, fossils, flora and fauna. The hundreds of naturalized animal and insect specimens are well presented. English translations, however, are a rarity here.

This resort area (Tуристичка Населба Абланица/Turistička Naselba Ablanica) lies in a clearing around the Bregalnica River, 900 m above sea level. There is a modern chapel dedicated to St. Petka and about 100 villas and cottages, some of which are rented. It is the starting point of several trails (on foot or by mountain bike). One of them leads to the center of Berovo (3 km). Another one follows the Bregalnica from its source to the lake of Berovo (8 km).

Opened in 2011, this small private museum (Музеј на Долард/Muzej na Dolard, A. den Doolaard Museum) is dedicated to the Dutch writer A. den Doolaard (1904-1994). He wrote about present-day North Macedonia from 1934 and was particularly interested in Ohrid. The city attracts many tourists from the Netherlands. Installed in the Cultura 365 center, the museum consists of photos and excerpts from books by the writer. Since 2006, a monument also pays tribute to him in the park "Holland", south of the Macedonian quay.

This municipal museum (Музеј на Град Неготино) was founded in 1978. It includes a rich archaeological collection from the nearby site of Antigonia (^3rd century ^BC-3rd century AD): votive statuettes, ceramics, jewelry, weapons, coins or even tombstones displayed in the lapidarium, outside. The history section covers the founding of the present city in 1800 and the two world wars. The ethnographic collection is also interesting, largely devoted to viticulture.

Opened in 2004, this monument (Меморијален Центар АСНОМ) is decorated with a colorful mosaic of 140^m2. It is dedicated to the Antifascist Assembly for the Liberation of the Macedonian People (ASNOM). This was founded on August 2, 1944, in the monastery of Prohor Pčinski, in Serbia, 9 km to the north, then dissolved by Tito in early 1945. Considered as independentists or probulgares, a hundred of militants were then executed. An important official ceremony is held here on August 2, the national holiday, on the anniversary of the Ilinden uprising in 1903.

The Great Pelister Lake (Golemo Ezero/Големо Езеро) is a glacial lake located at an altitude of 2,218 m, below the Veternica peak (2,400 m). It extends over 4.2 ha with a maximum length of 226 m, width of 175 m and depth of 17.2 m. Enjoying magnificent scenery, it's one of the main attractions of Pelister National Park. Together with the Small Pelister Lake (Malo Ezero/Мало Езеро), it is said to form "the eyes of Pelister". The Great Lake is accessible via two trails: one 6 km (approx. 3h30 walk) from the village of Nižepole, 1,170 m above sea level, the other 9 km (approx. 4h walk) from the Nižepole ski resort, 1,360 m above sea level. On arrival, right by the lake, you'll find the Golemo Ezero hut, which sleeps 30 (+389 75 45 87 82, [email protected]). This is an essential stopover if you want to continue your hike to Mount Pelister (2,601 m altitude) via Petit Lac. The latter extends over 0.7 ha in a small mountain cirque, at 2,190 m altitude, and below Partizanski Peak (2,349 m). The trail between the Great Lake and Mount Pelister (6.5 km, approx. 2.5 hrs walk) is fairly easy. It offers grandiose views of Bitola and the Pelagonian plain to the east, Lake Prespa and Mount Galičica to the west, and various mountains in Greece and Albania to the south and southwest. From Mount Pelister, a more challenging 8 km trail descends to Hotel Molika, at 1,420 m altitude (approx. 4.5 hrs walk).

Housed in an elegant early ^20th-century building, this museum founded in 1946 (Народен Mузеј/Naroden Muzej) houses collections of archaeology, history, ethnology and art history: beautiful costumes from Povardarie, traditional house interiors, objects from the ancient site of Stobi... Of particular interest are the finds from the Neolithic sites of Čaška and Kartalica: figurines, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, amulets and a very rare globular flute. The latter dates from 4000-5000 BC and belonged to the Anzabegovo-Vršnik culture.

Located in Stara Čaršija, between the Mustafa-Pacha mosque and the Kuršumli caravanserai, this museum (Музеј на Република Северна Македонија/Muzej na Republika Severna Makedonija, Muzeu i Republikës së Maqedonisë së Veriut) is the largest in the country. Founded in 1924, it has been housed since 1976 in a vast concrete building with cubic forms that advance in terraces. Designed by architects Kiril Muratovski (b. 1930) and Mimoza Nestorova-Tomić (b. 1929), it boasts 6,000^m2 of exhibition space divided between three sections of ethnology, archaeology and art history. However, it suffers from a dated presentation and, above all, from competition from the National Archaeological Museum. Part of the archaeology collection has been transferred to the latter. In the process, 130 objects have disappeared, probably stolen. The ethnology section includes some sixty traditional costumes from all regions of the country. Note in particular this wedding dress from Mariovo, in the south. It weighs 40 kg and comes with a wig that the bride had to wear for a month after the ceremony, as a symbol of her virginity. Photos and models show the different architectural styles of traditional housing, as well as pottery and fishing activities.

Goddess Menada and Virgin Pelagonitisa. The archaeology section covers a broad period from the ^6th millennium BC to the ^7th century AD. It contains Neolithic votive statuettes, pottery from various periods and the famous Illyrian statuette of the goddess Menada (^6th century BC) from Tetovo. Also on display are the statue of the "Modest" Venus from the site of the ancient Scupi and some of the very rare Byzantine terracotta icons from Vinica (near Kočani). The art history section focuses on Christian art from the ^10th to the ^19th century, with the country's second-richest collection of painted icons, after that of Ohrid. The masterpiece comes from the monastery of Zrze (near Prilep). It is the icon of the "Pelagonian Mother of God" (Bogorodica Pelagonitisa), executed in 1422. The infant Christ appears without a halo, almost "disarticulated", in an astonishing position, as if performing a rotational movement, placing his head against that of his mother and caressing her face with his left hand. The section also includes copies of Byzantine church frescoes.

Located on the shore of Matka Lake and at the entrance to the canyon, near the St. Andrew's Church, this area has been home to canoe and other watercraft rental companies and companies offering boat trips to the Vrelo Cave since the 1990s. There is also a hotel-restaurant Canyon Matka and an agency Rock Climbing Canyon Matka (facebook.com/oliverpetreskirockclimbing) which organizes climbing sessions on the cliffs of the canyon under the supervision of an experienced guide.

This open mosque (Ајдар Кади Џамија/Ajdar Kadi Džamija) was built around 1562 thanks to a donation from the cadi (Muslim judge) Gazi Haydar Kadi. With its 19 m-high dome and 1.4 m-thick walls, it was the only church with two minarets in today's North Macedonia. After the Turkish inhabitants left in 1912, the church fell into disrepair. Only one of its minarets (45 m high) was rebuilt during the major renovation financed by a Turkish Islamic fund in 2016.

Established in 2012, this ministation (Ски-Центар Пониква) is located south of Osogovo. It extends from 1,300 to 1,650 m above sea level with a chairlift, a tug, 1.3 km of slopes, accommodation and a rental equipment company. The ski conditions are uncertain (the snow cannons have been sabotaged) and, when there is snow, it is crowded on weekends. On the other hand, it is nice in summer for hiking. There is even an airfield using the Kočani road as a runway.

Erected in 1830, this large Orthodox church (Црква Свети Димитриј Солунски/Sveti Dimitrij Solunski) houses a superb carved wooden iconostasis dating from 1842. Influenced by the style of Mount Athos, the engraver filled the entire wall with elements from the world of plants and animals. It's also worth noting that the opening scene of the American film The Peacemaker (1997, with George Clooney and Nicole Kidman), supposedly set in Bosnia-Herzegovina, was filmed in this church.

These springs (Вевчански Извори/Vevčanski Izvori) are among the most famous in Northern Macedonia. Located on Mount Jablanica, at an altitude of 910 m, they have been a protected area covering 1,370 ha since 2012. Several streams here swell the waters of the Vevčanska River, which flows through Vevčani, before joining the Black Drin at the village of Dobovjani, 6 km to the east. The area is enchanting, with old mills, waterfalls, paved paths, wooden footbridges, information panels (English version), picnic areas and thick vegetation dominated by oak and hazel. The area is home to numerous animal species, including 120 types of butterfly, 30 species of reptile and 9 types of bat. However, the main source of the Vevčanska is further up (1,344 m), at the place known as the "Jankov Stone" (Јанков Камен/Jankov Kamen). A pleasant, easy 3.3-km-long trail follows the river between the "Vevčani springs" and the "Jankov stone" (allow 3h round trip). You can sleep in a dormitory at the Jankov Kamen hut (+389 75 89 20 45, approx. €8/person), then continue for 8.5 km to Gorna Belica (Горна Белица, Belica e Sipërme), at 1,440 m altitude. This hamlet, with just four inhabitants in 2021, does however have a hotel, the Gorna Belica (+389 70 27 45 60, around €25 for two). It's a good starting point for other trails to the peaks and lakes of Mount Jablanica.

This monument (Спомен Костурница/Spomen Kosturnica) has stood since 1957 on a small hill with a park and a soccer field below. Designed by Serbian sculptor Sreten Stojanović (1898-1960), it consists of a concrete obelisk about 20 m high, a bronze statue of a woman holding up an ear of corn, and a crypt housing the remains of some 300 partisans who died during World War II. The site offers views of the city center and the Banevo Trlo neighborhood, which is mostly populated by Albanians and Roma.

This Orthodox chapel (Испосница Свети Прохор Пчињски/Isposnica Sveti Prohor Pčinjski) is linked to the origins of the Church of St. George. According to legend, while a Byzantine general was hunting here, a doe found refuge in this shelter of the hermit St. Prochorus of the Pčinja. The latter implored him to spare the animal, assuring him that one day he would become emperor. The hunter, crowned as Roman IV Diogenes in 1068, had the monastery erected here, later remodeled by Milutin.

This mountain range (Кожуф, pronounced "kojouf") covers almost 900 ^km2, mainly in Northern Macedonia. But its peak, Megali Tzena, is in Greece, at 2,182 m above sea level and 500 m as the crow flies from the border. Called Tzena/Τζένα in Greek, the massif has seven other peaks above 2,000 m, including Zelen Breg (2,172 m) in Northern Macedonia and Pinovo (2,156 m) in Greece. On both sides of the border, this region remains undeveloped. The closure of the small Macedonian ski resort in 2020 has not helped matters. The site of a Franco-Greek breakthrough against the Bulgarian army in 1917, Mount Kožuf remains especially marked by the Greek civil war of 1946-1949. Important clashes took place here between the Greek-Yugoslav communist troops and the Greek national army supported by the Americans and the British. So much so that in 1948, the entire population of a hundred villages of the massif was evacuated by both sides. The part located in present-day North Macedonia remained a prohibited zone, reserved for the Yugoslav army until independence in 1991. This region, half covered by forests, remains very wild. There are few marked trails on the Macedonian side. As for the fauna, if poachers have made most of the deer disappear, we note the occasional presence of the bear. The Balkan lynx, the rarest and most endangered mammal of Southeast Europe, could also pass through from time to time, according to some scientists.

This mosque (Татар Синан Бег Џамија/Tatar Sinan Beg Džamija, Xhamia e Sinan Pashës) is the oldest monument in the city. Named after the Ottoman dignitary who financed it, it was erected between 1520 and 1532. Despite several transformations, it retains its beautiful orange hues due to the stones from the valley of the Žegligovo, partly in neighboring Serbia. Today it is less used than the Great Mosque (Xhamia e Madhe), to the east, which dates from 2022, and the New Mosque (Xhamia e Re), to the southeast, built in 2020 with two minarets.

This Orthodox rock chapel (Црква Света Богородица Пештанска/Crkva Sveta Bogorodica Peštanska) is adorned with ^14th-century frescoes. Heavily denatured by the lake's humidity, the pigments were applied directly to the rock. However, representations of some of the great Orthodox feasts are still recognizable: the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Baptism of Christ... Only accessible from Gradište beach, the chapel is frequently visited by bathing-suited worshippers.

This Orthodox church (Црква Свети Ѓорѓи/Crkva Sveti Gjorgji) is a masterpiece of Serbo-Byzantine art. It was founded on the site of a Byzantine monastery of the ^eleventh century by the Serbian king Milutin in 1313. He dedicated it to "St. George the Victorious" after his victory against the Ottomans in Gallipoli, near Constantinople. The interior is decorated with remarkable frescoes made between 1313 and 1318 by the two great Greek painters Michaïl Astrapas and Eutychios, to whom we owe the decoration of several churches listed as World Heritage by Unesco, including Ohrid. Although the building has lost its exonarthex (porch), it is well preserved. Its very compact form comes from the previous church of Byzantine-Armenian style, which was built by Armenian craftsmen who fled to Kratovo. In the narthex (vestibule), above the door, the scene of the dormition of the Mother of God appears in the form of a procession. This dynamic effect is very rare, since the dormition is most often a static lamentation. Also in the narthex, the lower part of the north wall houses the damaged portrait of Milutin, who symbolically offers the church to Saint George. To the left stands Simona Palaeologus, the king's fourth wife, who was reputedly very beautiful. Behind this almost unique presentation of the royal couple lies a sordid story. The Byzantine princess was married to Milutin at the age of 5. The union was quickly "consummated" and this rape later prevented Simone from having children.

Dragon tamed. Following the narthex, the naos is covered with frescoes in seven registers. The third is dedicated to St. George: his martyrdom before the walls of Nicomedia, his miracles (including the fall of "pagan" statues), or the episode of the dragon, very particular. Here, the monster has not been struck down but tamed and is held in check by the princess who has just been saved. In the fourth register, the cycle of the Passion of Christ is of interest to musicologists: above the destruction of the idols by Saint George appears the oldest known representation of a modern recorder. Finally, in the sanctuary, the iconostasis retains its original marble structure and two irremovable icons of St. George and the Mother of God, known as Pelagonitissa. The latter, with the Child contorting himself against his loving Mother, is the most famous of a genre that is especially widespread in Pelagonia, around Bitola.

This pedestrian square (Плоштад Слобода) forms the center of Štip. It took its present form in the 1970s and is not conspicuous for its beauty. It concentrates administrative buildings, including the post office, cafes, fast food and some shops. Nearby are two landmark buildings: the bezistan (30 m to the northwest) and the clock tower (120 m to the north). Both are accessible through passages through the buildings. To the south, towards the Otinja, the square is adorned with a rather ugly statue of Alexander the Great (2010).

Dating from 1851, this cathedral (Соборен Срам Свети Никола) is the seat of the Kumanovo-Osogovo Eparchy of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. It was designed by Andreja Damjanov, to whom we owe the Cathedral Church of St. Panteleimon in Veles. The visit is especially worthwhile for the gallery of icons, mostly from the ^19th century, coming from churches and monasteries threatened with theft in the region. Beautiful icons by the great masters Dičo Zograf, Veno Kostov and Yosif Mazhovski.

This 4.2 ^km2 artificial lake (Езеро Калиманци) was created on the Bregalnica River in 1969 to irrigate the vast rice fields of the Kočani region and to power a small power plant near the dam to the south. Located at 510 m above sea level, it is 14 km long and about 300 m wide. It is not developed in any way, but one can swim in it in summer (the water is 20 °C then) on the way to Delčevo. In the northern part, the town of Makedonska Kamenica/Македонска Каменица (about 4,000 inhabitants) offers beautiful views of the lake.

This strange stone wall (Ѓаволски Ѕид/Gjavolski Zid) is a natural geological formation located at 235 m above sea level, in the small Bogoslovec massif, above the Bregalnica River. Over a length of 300-400 m, limestone and sandstone blocks rise up to form a vertical wall which, in its most impressive part, is 5 m high and 2.5 m wide. This phenomenon is due to various factors, including erosion. The site is associated with many legends and theories: fortress of Alexander the Great, intervention of extraterrestrials..

This 57 ha artificial lake (Беровско Езеро) was created in 1970 with the construction of a 60 m high dam on the small Klepaska River. Located at 990 m above sea level and surrounded by beech and pine forests, it is highly developed in the northern part with several roads and many accommodations including three hotels (Aurora, Bistra and VIP Berovo) and rental villas. Some owners rent or lend mountain bikes that allow you to go around the lake. On the way, we meet small producers offering their honey and mountain herbs.

Located on top of a hill, 485 m above sea level, this monument (Спомен Костурница Зебрњак/Spomen Kosturnica Zebrnjak) has dominated the entire plain northeast of Kumanovo since 1937. It houses the (clearly visible) bones of about 400 Serbian soldiers who died during the Battle of Kumanovo on October 23-24, 1912. This decisive confrontation of the First Balkan War provoked a vast retreat of the Ottomans. The ossuary originally consisted of a stone tower 48.5 m high. This was knocked down by the Bulgarian army in 1942.

This 4,000^m2 pedestrian square (Плоштад Нова Југославија/Ploštad Nova Jugoslavija) is the center of the city. Despite a project to rename it in 2015, it retains its name inherited from socialist Yugoslavia. Here you can find the pleasant Art Paris brewery, the two-towered building of the House of Crafts (1930) or the statue of Batko Gjorgija (2006), a great figure of local folklore. Just to the southeast is the second city esplanade, Maršal-Tito Square.

The "Bear Rock" site (Мечкин Камен) is a national historical landmark and an important base for paragliding jumps. It lies on the Birinska plateau, at an altitude of 1,443 m, and enjoys a grandiose panorama over the Pelagonian plain. It can be reached by following the R 1306 towards Demir Hisar and Bitola, then taking the first road on the left after the Makpetrol petrol station. This is where the Battle of Mečkin Kamen took place on August 12, 1903, ten days after the start of the Ilinden Uprising. The last 300 Kruševo insurgents fought to the death against the surrounding Ottoman troops. Since 1983, the site has been adorned with an 8 m-high statue. It depicts one of the insurgents, the Aromanian hero Pitu Guli (1865-1903), frozen in mid-exertion, throwing a huge rock. The plinth bears the words "freedom or death" (Слобода или Смрт), the slogan of all anti-Ottoman insurrections in the Balkans. This was the last major statue by Dimo Todorovski (1910-1983), whose works can be found mainly in the Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje. Mečkin Kamen hosts a Republic Day national holiday ceremony every August 2. The place owes its name to a legend according to which farmers managed to kill a huge bear living here in a fierce battle. From now on, no more risk. Mečkin Kamen is renowned for its views, picnic spots and is one of the best paragliding sites in the world.

This 39.5 m high waterfall (Смоларски Водопад/Smolarski Vodopad) is located near the village of Smolari (300 inhabitants), 580 m above sea level, along Mount Beles. This is the Smolarska River, which then joins the Strumica. The place is equipped with a platform and a small market in summer. This is also where the 13.4 km long trail from Smolari to Mount Tumba (1,881 m above sea level), at the junction of Northern Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece, runs. The route takes two days with overnight stay at the Šarena Češma/Шарена Чешма hut.

This lake (Охридско Езеро/Ohridsko Ezero, Liqeni i Ohrit) is one of the oldest in the world and the deepest in the Balkans. Good for swimming in summer (the water temperature then exceeds 23 ° C), it extends over 349 ^km2 on both sides of the border with Albania, including 250 ^km2 in Northern Macedonia, which makes it the second largest lake in the Balkans after the lake of Shkodra, between Albania and Montenegro, which displays an area of 370 to 530 ^km2 depending on the season. However, the latter contains barely 2 million cubic metres of water, compared with over 55 million cubic metres for Lake Ohrid. Bordered by the towns of Ohrid and Struga, in Northern Macedonia, and Pogradec, in Albania, Lake Ohrid is also known as "Lake Pogradec" in Albanian (Liqeni i Pogradecit). At an altitude of 693 m, it offers magnificent scenery: it is surrounded by mountains, particularly to the east, where Mount Galičica (2,254 m) separates it from the large Lake Prespa (259 ^km2). Its rich flora and fauna have earned it Unesco World Heritage status since 1979, and Ramsar status for wetlands of international importance since 2021.

An old cousin of Titicaca. Oval in shape, the lake is 30.4 km long from north to south and 14.8 km wide from east to west. Its average depth is 155 m, with a maximum depth of 288.70 m. That's almost as deep as Lake Geneva, between France and Switzerland, which drops to - 310 m. But it's a long way from Norway's Lake Hornindalsvatnet, which holds the European depth record at - 514 m. On the other hand, Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest lakes on the planet, along with Lake Titicaca (between Peru and Bolivia), Lake Baikal (in Russia), Lake Tanganyika (between Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia) and the Dead Sea (between Israel, the West Bank and Jordan). All date from the same period: they were formed around four million years ago. Lake Ohrid is also distinguished by its very particular geology and hydrography. It is carved out of dense limestone rock, which prevents it from draining to the bottom. It is fed mainly by Lake Prespa, located at a higher altitude (853 m), whose waters flow through natural galleries beneath Mount Galičica to emerge as springs on the outskirts of Lake Ohrid. The most important of these resurgences are located on the south-eastern shore, around the St. Naum monastery, close to the Albanian border.

Translucent waters. Passing underground, the water is filtered and emerges particularly clear in Lake Ohrid, ensuring astonishing transparency at depths of up to 22 m. The lake is also fed by some forty rivers. The lake itself is the main source of the Black Drin, a 177 km-long river that flows from Struga (on the north shore) into Albania, where it joins the White Drin from Kosovo to form the Drin River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. Lake Ohrid is the second largest watershed (2,600 km²) in Northern Macedonia, after the Vardar (22,000 km²). And yet its waters flow very slowly: it is estimated that they take seventy years to fully renew themselves, compared with just thirteen years for those of the great Lake Prespa.

Exceptional biodiversity. Lake Ohrid is without doubt the richest lake in the world in terms of biodiversity. Due to its age and natural properties, it is home to 1,200 animal and plant species, many of which are endemic, i.e. found only here. There are, for example, ten endemic fish species. The most emblematic is the Ohrid trout(Salmo letnica), served in many restaurants under the nameohridska pastrmka(koran in Albanian). Endemism is particularly impressive among plants and invertebrates, with a freshwater sponge, 12 crustaceans, 20 algae, 63 molluscs and 178 small organisms that are completely unique in the world. The whole complex is a vast larder for thousands of birds that winter here, particularly endangered species such as the rare and imposing Dalmatian pelican, the Ferruginous duck - an attractive diving duck - the Pygmy cormorant, the Screaming eagle and the Imperial eagle. However, the Lake Ohrid ecosystem is threatened by human activity. High tourist numbers are leading to increasing pollution, and almost all the marshes have been drained for agricultural purposes. All that remains is the Studenčište marsh (Studenčiško Blato), home to 79 types of birds and a rich variety of aquatic worms and insects. But it's located just southeast of the city of Ohrid, where hotel complexes are booming, so bird numbers are in sharp decline. Some endemic fish species are in danger of extinction, notably the Ohrid pike-perch(Salmo ohridanus), locally known as belvica(belushka in Albanian). Human pressure is most acute in the North Macedonian part of the region. Ohrid is the country's tourism capital. As the country has no access to the sea, the beaches on the eastern shore are crowded in summer. This part of the lake is nicknamed the "Macedonian Riviera".

Surrounded by stores, this caravanserai in Stara Čaršija (Сули Ан/Suli An, Hani i Sulit) is hardly visible from the outside. Located just north of the hammam Čifte (another entrance to the east via Bitpazarska Street), it was established around 1460 by Governor Isa-Bey Ishaković. Its name comes from the Turkish word sulu, meaning a damp place. The building stands above the Serava River, which was covered over during the Ottoman period. Restored after the 1963 earthquake, it looks like a classic caravanserai: a courtyard used to store goods and 57 rooms for merchants on two levels. Since 1982, the first floor has housed part of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Saints Cyril and Methodius University, with an exhibition. The first floor is occupied by the Stara Čaršija Museum (Музеј на Старата Скопска Чаршија/Muzej na Starata Skopska Čaršija, Muzeu i Çarshisë së Vjetër të Shkupit). Established in 1983, it is part of the Skopje City Museum. Covering 350^m2, it includes an archaeology section displaying objects dating from the ^10th to the ^20th century, found in the charchia and the fortress. The ethnology section focuses on the ancient crafts of the charchia: goldsmiths, tinsmiths, coppersmiths and leatherworkers. An opportunity to discover old tools and beautiful pieces of hammered copper. The museum also includes a history section (plans and documents) and an art gallery (paintings by ^20th-century local artists).

This 32 km-long river (Драгор) crosses Bitola from west to east. Between the Charchia district and the northern part of Širok-Sokak, it was canalized in 1896. Here, the river's paved banks are ideal for a stroll. The river rises on Mount Baba in the Pelister National Park and joins the Crna some 10 km to the east, near the village of Novaci. Its naturally variable water level has been controlled since 1983 by a canal that feeds Lake Streževsko (7.5 ^km2), 24 km northwest of Bitola.

This mosque (Инќар Џамија/Inḱar Džamija, Xhamia e Hynqarit) is Debar's oldest. But it is awaiting renovation. It was erected in 1467 thanks to a gift from Sultan Mehmet II and bears the Turkish name of Hünkâr Camii ("Sovereign's Mosque"). Rebuilt in 1938, it is still used by the inhabitants of the old charchia district. However, the city's Muslims are more likely to frequent the "Clock Tower Mosque" (Xhamia e Sahat Kullës) built in 2013, 300 m south-west of Skanderbeg Square.

This 15 m high stone tower (Маркови Кули/Markovi Kuli) was erected around the ^12th-13th centuries. Recently restored with its battlements, it was part of the Kožle fortress, the remains of which remain. The origins of this stronghold date back to the early Middle Ages, when it guarded the passage between the Byzantine provinces of Macedonia (south) and Mesia (north). The site is unkempt, full of garbage, and access is through thorny trees and along a ravine. But the views over the Badar Gorge are delightful.

Nestled against a cliff in the Badar Gorge, this small Orthodox monastery of Serbian origin (Кожленскиот Mанастир/Kožlenskiot Manastir) was founded in the ^14th century but completely rebuilt in 1918. The major interest is the access path that takes the "Stojan Bridge" (Стојанов Mост/Stojanov Most): an impressive 60 m long wooden and steel footbridge spanning the Pčinja. This structure was built in 2012 by Stojan Trajanovski, the janitor of the monastery. He and his wife sell fruits and vegetables at the top. Great views of the gorge.

This small site (Археолошки Локалите Градилиште Бразда/Arheološki Lokalitet Gradište Brazda) contains a monumental tomb from the^5th or ^4th century BC discovered in 1986. It is a burial chamber, known as "royal", made of cut stone buried in the ground and with a dromos (corridor). The region was then occupied by the Peonian tribe of Agrianes. The tomb evokes those of Greek Macedonia. But its particular structure suggests that it could be Athenian.

This mosque (Иса-Бегова Џамија/Isa-Begova Džamija, Xhami e Gazi Isa Beut) was built in 1475-1476 as a tribute to the governor of the Skopje sanjak, then first governor of Bosnia Isa Bey Isaković, son of Ishak Bey. It comprises two identical rooms, two vaulted side wings and a porch covered with five domes. The interior decoration was redone in 1966. The mosque's medersa (Koranic school), still in use today, is one of the oldest in the Balkans. The Sultan-Murat mosque and clock tower lie 300 m to the south.

This small, tree-lined public park (Парк Жена-Борец/Park Žena-Borec) owes its name to a beautiful abstract sculpture paying tribute to the Yugoslav women who fought in the ranks of the partisans during World War II: about 1,700 of them died on the territory of present-day North Macedonia. Inaugurated in 1970, this stone work of about 2 m high is the work of the great Prilep sculptor Boro Mitrikeski (1927-2018). But not all the artists of the country have the same talent. You don't have to go very far to realize this. Within the framework of the "Skopje 2014" project, the same small park has been given a dozen kitsch, mediocre, ugly or pretentious monuments illustrating figures from the national narrative. One of them cumulates all the defects. It is the Monument to the Fallen Heroes of Macedonia. This vast white marble composition installed here in 2012 consists of a fountain adorned with a golden statue of the Greek mythological figure Prometheus, a tholos topped by a golden statue of the Roman allegory of victory and a portico supporting a quadriga not unlike the one at the Brandenburg Gate. The whole is accompanied by the pseudo-Latin inscription " Immortale, libertas, justicia " (in real Latin, it gives " Immortalitas, libertas, iustitia "). It is one of the most mocked monuments by Skopiotes. It is also one of the symbols of the mismanagement of the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski (2006-2016), now sought by justice.

This mountain guide agency organizes excursions in Pelister National Park and other regions. Its team is certified by the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA). They offer hikes to the Great Lake and Mount Pelister (10h hike), tours of the First World War trenches in the park, and winter activities with skis, crampons and snowshoes in the Šar Mountains and Mavrovo National Park, via Albania and Kosovo.

Isolated at an altitude of 914 m, this beautiful Orthodox monastery (Слепченски Манастир/Slepčenski Manastir) enjoys a superb natural setting, beneath Mount Bigla (1,322 m). Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, it is said to have been founded in the^5th century and enjoyed a period of splendor in the ^9th century under the rule of St. Clement of Ohrid. Today, most of the buildings date from the ^16th century, and few of the old frescoes remain. But it's a good place for shopping: the monks produce and sell honey, cheese, cured meats, cider vinegar, jams and more.

This memorial-museum (Меморијален Музеј Смилево/Memorijalen Muzej Smilevo) was established in 2004 in a new, old-style building in Smilevo (population approx. 210), the village where Dame Gruev was born in 1871. Here, he was the founder of the Macedonian Internal Revolutionary Organization (VMRO) in 1893, took part in the Ilinden uprising in 1903 and was killed by the Ottomans in the Maleševo massif in eastern Macedonia in 1906. The museum houses a reconstruction of the hall where the founding congress was held in 1893, as well as traditional costumes from the region.