An Introduction to Macedonia.

Bordered by Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania, The Republic of Macedonia is somewhat overshadowed by its neighbours. People generally don’t know very much about Macedonia. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if most people have only heard of it because of their participation in the Eurovision song contest. That’s a shame though. Macedonia, with its stunning landscapes and ancient ruins littered throughout is vastly underappreciated. Here is an introduction to Macedonia and some of the highlights that visitors can enjoy.

Explore Skopje

The capital city here is Skopje. With much historic architecture, plenty of sights and its looming mountainous backdrop, you won’t be disappointed. Interestingly, Skopje was the birthplace of the Mother Teresa. As such, visitors are able to go and see her house and the monument dedicated to her. St Panteleimon’s Church and the 15th century Stone Bridge add further culture to the city.

Scale Vodno Mountain – Macedonia

Towards the outskirts of the city, well under a one hour drive away, lays Vodno Mountain. At the top of which you can see the Millennium Cross; the largest Christian cross in the world. Travel a little further and you will find Matka Lake and canyon. Shrouded by high, rocky mountain faces covered in green foliage and bursting with bluey green waters, the canyon and the lake look almost tropical. With the ability to hire a boat and opportunity aplenty to explore the mountain trails, the area is described as a natural paradise. If you decide to head for the trails, you will find a wealth of historic sites around the lake. These include the 17th Century St. Nikola Monastery, 15th Century Matka Monastery, and the 16th Century Church of St. Atanasie, the appeal of which is heightened due to their location.

Mavrovo National Park

There are three national parks to visit in Macedonia, each as impressive as the last. Mavrovo is found in the north west of the country. The ski centre at Bistra Mountain is the most popular in the country, offering affordable skiing opportunities.

During the summer months, the national park still holds a great deal of appeal, particularly around Lake Mavrovo which offers plenty of activities. With a huge variety of fish to be found in the lake, fishing is a particularly popular pastime. The lake is not natural; it was formed after a damn was built in the 1950s. This caused a Church in the area to be flooded as the water accumulated and parts of it can still be seen emerging from the lake today which certainly makes for some interesting photos! The Monastery of St John the Baptist can be found in Bistro. Despite still being a working monastery, visitors can still enter both the church and monastery. This offers fabulous views over the national park.

Pelister National Park

Pelister National Park, overlooking the city of Bitola, also has a popular ski resort and is filled with exquisite flora and fauna. One of the highlights here are the two mountain lakes, known locally as Pelister’s Eyes.

Galicica National Park

Galicica National Park is quite close by and its imposing peaks are sandwiched between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prepsa. This ideal positioning means there is a wealth of outdoor activities to be enjoyed, from hiking to boating and in warmer weather, no lack of swimming and bathing. What Macedonia lacks in typical beaches, it more than makes up for with its huge selection of beautiful lakes dotted across the country. Again, there are a spattering of historic monasteries and churches to be found in the surrounding villages of all three national parks.

For a country that has so much to offer, this is a very brief introduction to Macedonia. Essentially however, anyone interested in culture, history and nature will find their ideal holiday destination in Macedonia.