Travel Guide Demir Kapija

The Tikveš wine-growing region comes to a spectacular end here at the Demir Kapija Gorge. Hillsides planted with vranac, stanušina, temjanika, merlot and cabernet sauvignon range in altitude from 100 to 300 m, giving way to splendid mountain scenery. Although the local wines are not the best, the two main wineries, Popova Kula and Queen Maria, offer an enchanting setting for tastings, eating and sleeping. The famous gorges carved by the Vardar are among the most famous climbing sites in the Balkans. For centuries, they were a strategic crossing point, halfway between Thessalonica and Skopje. As early as antiquity, the cliffs were bristling with fortresses. As for the Ottomans, they named the place Demir Kapı: the "Iron Gate". Demir Kapija is now a pleasant village that deserves more than just a stopover. The town hall has a dedicated tourism website (visitdemirkapija.mk) with accommodation, restaurants, walking and climbing spots.