Why go en Macédoine du Nord?
The good reasons to go en Macédoine du Nord
Off the beaten track
A "nature" super-destination still largely unknown to the general public.
Populations
Here, they are very varied (Slavs, Albanians, Turks...) and often very welcoming.
Mountains
There are some forty different massifs. Discover them on foot in summer, or on skis in winter.
Landscapes
Despite the country's small size, the landscape changes rapidly from one valley to the next.
Mavrovo
This national park is an enchantment: hiking, bell towers and minarets, skiing, good food..
Kitchen
A delicious mix of Slavic, Greek, Turkish and Albanian cuisine.
Hiking
Countless trails for walkers of all levels.
Ohrid
The town and its lake are a World Heritage Site: nature, medieval churches..
Wines
If the wines aren't incredible on the whole, we've found you some great organic producers.
Skopje
Not the most fun capital of the Balkans, but its strange architecture is interesting.
Good to know when visiting la Macédoine du Nord
Timetable
Times vary according to the site. We'll give you the times and prices each time. Please note, however, that museums outside major cities are often closed at weekends. There's no way of booking in advance. But in general, it's not crowded, except sometimes in Ohrid, in the churches and at the Gallery of Icons.
Main events
The "Summer of Ohrid" festival (mid-July to mid-August) is the country's most famous: opera, classical music and more.
Guided tours
The national tourist office(macedonia-timeless.com) has a list of official guide-lecturers. But very few of them speak French. As a general rule, guided tours offered by private agencies are in English, whether in the towns or to discover wine producers or hiking trails. In small museums, guided tours are often offered in local languages.
What's very local
In mosques, you must remove your shoes before entering (as is the case for people of all faiths), and women must cover their heads. Proper dress is often required in churches. In any case, in a place of worship, avoid touching anything or entering with bare arms and legs. It's a question of respect for the locals, who are generally very religious. In some monasteries, the monks are vigilant about dress and may forbid you to enter if they feel you are inappropriately dressed. In such cases, long, unsightly skirts are sometimes available for women (yes, women wearing pants is sacrilege!).
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Discover la Macédoine du Nord
Lots of mountains, a complicated history, varied populations... No doubt about it, this is the Balkans, the "land of blood and honey". Northern Macedonia is still largely unknown to the general public. Most of the tourists here are... the locals themselves, those who have left to live all over the world and return for weddings, vacations or retirement. The few Western travellers who venture here discover grandiose landscapes, wild nature, churches adorned with sumptuous medieval frescoes, mosques lost in the mountains, well-preserved old Ottoman towns, isolated villages with welcoming inhabitants and the astonishing capital, Skopje, completely rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1963. Here are a few pages to help you understand this small country, as complicated as it is endearing.
