Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Skopje, the capital of Macedonia
Emergence of Macedonia
In the prehistoric period, Macedonia was the territory through which carriers of Neolithic cultures penetrated into Europe from Asia Minor (for more details, see Prehistoric Greece). In the end bronze age various Indo-European tribes invade Macedonia from the north, some of which go further to Asia Minor, and some to Greece.
The word "Macedonia" comes from the Greek "μακεδνός ( madenos)", which means "high".
The first Macedonian state was founded in the 8th century BC. e. or the beginning of the 7th century BC. e. the Greek dynasty of the Argeads - settlers from the southern Greek city of Argos (hence the name - Argeads), who traced their origin to Hercules. The first king of Macedonia - Perdikka I (according to later data - Karan).
Early kingdom
The mythical founder of the Macedonian state was called Karan, identified with the son of the Argos king Temen Archelaus. According to Justin, 924 years passed from Karan to the last king of Macedonia, Perseus, which forces us to date the reign of Karan to the 11th century BC. e.
Alexander actively used the cultural heritage of the conquered powers, but at the same time introduced the conquered peoples to the culture of Greece and encouraged the study of Greek sciences. And although the newly formed empire collapsed shortly after the death of Alexander, its legacy survived and allowed the conquered peoples to enter the Hellenistic era. The population of the Hellenistic countries of Asia even in the II century. n. e. accounted for more than a quarter of the world's population. Koine Greek has been the international lingua franca for more than a millennium.
In 330 B.C. e. the commander of Alexander the Great Zopirion made a campaign in Scythia, as a result of which his thirty thousandth army was defeated.
kingdom sunset
Language
The language of the Macedonians, which was in use until the beginning of the 5th century BC. e. and preserved in some areas for several centuries of our era, has come down to us in less than a hundred short records made by Hesychius of Alexandria in the 5th century. This language was quite close to Greek, being its dialect. The ancient Macedonian language was influenced by Doric Greek, and with the onset of a stormy cultural development and close interaction with other states of Hellas, the difference in languages began to decrease. Due to the extremely scarce linguistic material, many points of view on the origin of the ancient Macedonian language have appeared. It is most often viewed as:
- dialect Greek with elements of Illyrian;
- a dialect of Greek with elements of Illyrian and Thracian;
- a dialect of Greek with elements of a language of a non-Indo-European group;
- dialect of the Illyrian language with elements of Greek;
- an independent Indo-European language related to Greek, Thracian and Phrygian.
Origin
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia- a state in the southeast of Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. In the north it borders on Kosovo and Serbia, in the west - on Albania, in the south - on Greece, in the east - on Bulgaria. There is no access to the sea.
In most of the territory there are ridges of medium-high mountain systems Skopska-Crna-Gora, Pind, Shar (the highest point is Mount Korab (2764 m)) and Pirin, separated by vast intermountain basins. From each other, mountain ranges separate the valleys of the Vardar and Strumitsa rivers, which flow through the whole country. In the southwest, there are the large lakes Ohrid and Prespa, partly belonging to Macedonia, and in the southeast, the large Lake Doyran.
The region is seismically active, earthquakes are quite strong. As a result of the last, which occurred in 1963, the city of Skopje was heavily destroyed.
Territory and name
The official designation since 1993, used in the UN at the urging of Greece, is the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Often referred to simply as Macedonia, but should not be confused with the state of Ancient Macedonia and the historical region of Macedonia in neighboring Greece. The Republic of Macedonia occupies about 35.8% of the area of historical Macedonia (52.4% is located on the territory of modern Greece, and 9.6% is on the territory of Bulgaria and makes up about 40.9% of its population).
The territory of the Republic of Macedonia previously formed the southernmost part of Yugoslavia. Its modern borders were established shortly after the Second World War. In August 1947, President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) Josip Tito and Bulgarian Prime Minister Georgi Dimitrov met in Bled and agreed that all of Macedonia (or at least part of Greek and all Bulgarian Macedonia) would eventually be included in union with Yugoslav Macedonia, provided that Bulgaria becomes integral part Federation of Balkan States. Thus, the Socialist Republic of Macedonia was formed as part of the SFRY - thereby the Macedonians were recognized as an independent people within the SFRY.
In 1991, with the disintegration of Yugoslavia into separate states, the territory of Macedonia has not changed. At the same time, the emergence of this separate state led to ongoing (July 2010) political disputes with Greece over the use of the names "Macedonia" and "Macedonians".
On November 4, 2004, the US administration officially recognized the Republic of Macedonia under this constitutional name. Meanwhile European Union declared that he would use the former name of Macedonia. The European Union also gave Greece guarantees that Macedonia would be able to join this organization only with the addition of the words "the former Yugoslav Republic" to the name.
Last changes: 05/18/2013Climate in Macedonia
Climate in Macedonia depending on the geographical location, it passes from a temperate continental climate to a subtropical one.
In the southern part of the country, climatic conditions similar to those of the Mediterranean prevail. In summer it is hot here, the air is dry, the air temperature is from +20°C to +23°C.
However, if you go up into the mountains, you will notice that it is noticeably cooler there. Winters are mild and humid, with average temperatures ranging from -1°C to -10°C.
In the north of the country annual rate rainfall is about 500 mm, and in the west, on the slopes of the mountains up to 1700 mm in winter period.
In the mountains, snow lies from November to March. However, already in May the air temperature often does not fall below zero.
The summer holiday season in Macedonia lasts from May to September.
Last changes: 05/18/2013Population
The population of Macedonia is 2,057,284 (2010).
Ethnic composition population: Macedonians - 64%, Albanians - 25%, Turks - 4%, Gypsies - 3%, Serbs - 2%, others - 2%.
Most of the inhabitants of the country (about 67%) belong to the Macedonian Orthodox Church. In 1967, the church declared its independence from the Serbian Orthodox Church, but its autocephaly is not recognized by other Orthodox churches.
Muslims make up 30% of total number believers, adherents of other confessions - 3%. There are 1,200 Orthodox churches and monasteries and 425 mosques in Macedonia.
The official language of Macedonia is Macedonian, which belongs to the group of South Slavic languages. It is spoken by almost 70% of the country's population.
The second most important language is Albanian, which is used for communication by more than 21% of the country's inhabitants. The fact that on the territory of Macedonia there are areas of compact residence of Albanians served as a reason for assigning the official status to the Albanian language, however, only in these areas, along with Macedonian. In addition, about 3% of the inhabitants of Macedonia speak Turkish, Serbian, Croatian and other languages.
The Macedonian language is controversial around its name. Perhaps it is worth noting this. The fact is that some linguists believe that no Macedonian language exists. And there is only a stable dialect of Bulgarian, which, due to the large number of people who are its speakers, has undeservedly received the status independent language. The official Macedonian language is the literary Macedonian language, created on the basis of the dialects common in the country.
For a Russian-speaking person, the Macedonian language is quite difficult to understand and even perceive, due to the abundance of solid consonants.
Last changes: 05/18/2013About money
Monetary unit of Macedonia: Macedonian denar(MKD), 1 MKD = 100 deni.
There are coins in circulation in denominations of 50 deni, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 denar; banknotes - 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 denars.
The only legal tender in the country is the denar. Currency can be exchanged at banks and numerous exchange offices.
Banks are usually open from 7:00 to 13:00 on weekdays, some large banks are open until 19:00 on weekdays and until 13:00 on Saturdays. Exchange offices are usually open from 7:00 to 19:00.
Credit cards are not very common in the country: you can pay with them only in expensive metropolitan hotels and shops, but you can withdraw cash from them at the bank without any problems.
Denar is a fairly stable currency, but outside of Macedonia you will not be able to exchange it. It is for this reason that it is best to change the currency to denar not all at once, but in the required quantities.
Last changes: 05/18/2013Communication and communications
Telephone code: 389
Internet domain: .mk
Police: 92, Fire: 93, Ambulance: 94, Roadside Assistance: 987
Phone codes of cities
Skopje - 2, Ohrid - 46, Bitola - 47
How to call
To call from Russia to Macedonia, you need to dial: 8 - beep - 10 - 389 - area code - subscriber number.
To call from Macedonia to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.
Fixed line
To call from a street pay phone, including abroad, telephone cards are used - they are sold at post offices and kiosks.
Calls from hotels are much more expensive, and the quality of the connection is usually lower than from a pay phone.
mobile connection
Cellular communication is represented by the GSM-900 standard. The coverage in cities is quite dense, in mountainous areas there are vast areas where cellular communication is not available.
Local SIM cards can be purchased at the offices of Makedonski Telekom operators.
shopping
Popular souvenirs - various jewelry from gold, silver and Ohrid pearls. Rakia (local moonshine) is also brought from Macedonia.
Ohrid pearls should either be bought in specialized stores or not bought at all, but in no case in souvenir shops, where there is a very high probability of buying a fake.
Last changes: 05/18/2013Where to stay
The tourist infrastructure in the Republic of Macedonia is still relatively poorly developed, there are not many hotels, but the prices for accommodation in them in the whole country are quite high. In some hotels, foreigners are charged a double rate and often only in foreign currency.
It is often more expedient to stay in the private sector (maximum $10-20 per person in high season).
Last changes: 05/18/2013Story
The territory of modern Macedonia was mastered by man in the Neolithic times. The first historically known settlement is a settlement founded by Illyrian and Thracian tribes. Already in the 5th century BC. e. a state arose on the territory of Macedonia, which existed until the 2nd century BC. e. at the same time, cities as centers of crafts and trade almost did not exist here.
The history of Macedonia from the 6th century AD is literally woven from the conquests of its various tribes, peoples, and states.
So, in the 6-7th century, they came to the territory of Macedonia Slavic tribes, which ethnically and linguistically constituted one group with the tribes that settled on the territory of modern Bulgaria. In the 7th century, the Slavs of Macedonia submitted to Byzantium. At the end of the 7th century, the Proto-Bulgarian horde of Khan Kuver invaded here and settled in the area of the city of Bitola. In the 9th century, most of Macedonia was part of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. In the 9th-10th centuries, the first feudal relations were formed on the territory of Macedonia, and Christianity became widespread. At the beginning of the 11th century, Macedonia was completely conquered by the Byzantine Empire. And since the middle of the 13th century, the territory of the country has been part of the Second Bulgarian kingdom. In the middle of the 14th century, Macedonia was conquered by the Serbian king Stefan Dusan, and a quarter of a century later, by the Ottoman Empire.
Turkish rule contributed to the influx of Albanians into Macedonia, and purely Muslim villages began to appear. At the same time, the liberation struggle of the Greeks, connected with the Greek national liberation revolution of 1821-1829, also covered the Greek population of Macedonia. At the same time, the liberation movement of the Slavic population of Macedonia was unfolding, aimed at overthrowing the Ottoman yoke. As a result, in 1903, a national liberation uprising broke out in Macedonia, during which the so-called Republic of Krushevo was proclaimed and a Provisional Revolutionary Government headed by N. Karev was created.
The aggravation at the beginning of the 20th century of the struggle of European powers, and especially Germany and Austria-Hungary, for dominance in the Balkan Peninsula turned Macedonia into one of the nodes of international contradictions. The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 eventually led to the fact that the territory of Macedonia was divided between Serbia (or sometimes this part is called Vardar Macedonia), Greece (or Aegean Macedonia) and Bulgaria (Pirina Region).
In 1918 Vardar Macedonia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which became Yugoslavia in 1929. At the same time, in economic terms, Vardar Macedonia was one of the most backward regions of royal Yugoslavia.
In 1941, Yugoslavia was occupied by the Axis countries (countries of the Nazi bloc). The territory of Vardar Macedonia was divided between Bulgaria and Albania. Part of the Macedonian Slavs supported the resistance movement, led by Josip Broz Tito, who later became President of Yugoslavia. The Bulgarian occupation authorities formed the Independent State of Macedonia, which existed for several months in 1944.
At the end of World War II, the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia was formed from six republics, including the People's Republic of Macedonia. When the association was renamed the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1963, Macedonia was also renamed the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.
1991 - declaration of sovereignty and a referendum on the independence of Macedonia, which led to a bloodless secession from Yugoslavia. Kiro Gligorov (1991-1999), a native of the local party nomenklatura, became the first president of Macedonia.
1991 - Bulgaria is the first country in the world to recognize the independence of Macedonia.
1992 - withdrawal of parts of the Yugoslav army.
1993 - The Republic of Macedonia is admitted to the UN as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
1995 - after the assassination attempt on Kiro Gligorov, Stoyan Andov was acting head of state for a short period.
As a result of the Kosovo War in 1999, some 360,000 Kosovo Albanians fled to Macedonian territory. The refugees soon left the country, but a little later, the local Albanians, following their example, put forward a demand for autonomy for the regions of the republic with a predominantly Albanian population.
1999 - Joint Declaration fixing the principles of good neighborly relations between Bulgaria and Macedonia; confirmed by a joint memorandum in 2008.
1999-2004 - President Boris Traikovsky.
2001 March - August - The Albanian National Liberation Army (leader - Ali Ahmeti) began military guerrilla operations against the regular army of Macedonia in the north and west of the country (especially in the Tetovo region). Only NATO intervention put an end to the confrontation, as a result of which the Ohrid Agreement was signed with the Albanian separatists, which provided limited legal and cultural autonomy (official status of the Albanian language, amnesty for the rebels, Albanian police in Albanian regions).
2002 - sporadic recurrences of the Albanian-Macedonian inter-ethnic conflict.
Last changes: 05/18/2013Useful information
Macedonia has announced a ban on smoking in public places. It is forbidden to smoke in restaurants, cafes, bars, educational institutions, government agencies, cinemas and other crowded places.
In the Albanian regions of Macedonia, cases of petty fraud are very common, the technique of the allegedly suddenly appearing language barrier is especially popular among the local population, so you should be especially careful when discussing financial matters making purchases and paying for services.
One small but very valuable advice: do not give money up front until the service is rendered. Otherwise, you can be left with nothing.
Last changes: 05/18/2013How to get to Macedonia
There are no direct scheduled flights between Macedonia and Russia. Sometimes charters fly from Russia to Macedonia (Moscow-Orchid-Moscow).
You can also get to Macedonia from Moscow by regular flights to Belgrade (Serbia), which are operated by Aeroflot and Jat Airways, then - an internal flight to Skopje or Orchid. The duration of the flight from Moscow to Belgrade is about 3 hours.
If the tourist has a Greek visa, you can use one of the numerous and relatively inexpensive flights to Thessaloniki, and then get to Macedonia by train (3-4 hours).
When departing from Macedonia, you need to pay a tax - 12 US dollars.
By train
Traveling from Russia to Macedonia by train is extremely inconvenient, expensive and time consuming. It implies the crossing of several states (Hungary, Serbia), which leads to the need to obtain transit visas.
Macedonia is connected by rail with Greece and Serbia. Transit trains run 2-3 times a day from Greek Thessaloniki to Belgrade, through Macedonia and its cities Gevgelia, Gradsko, Kumanovo. In addition, there are regional trains connecting Skopje and Nis (Serbia), Skopje and Thessaloniki.
By bus
Macedonia is in close interaction with neighboring and some Western European countries. Therefore, you can also get to the country using one of the regular or seasonal bus routes.
Bus flights to Macedonia are carried out regularly from Serbia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Albania, Turkey.
In addition, regular flights are operated weekly to Budapest, Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Zurich. Flights to Western Europe are much more expensive.
By car
Distances from Skopje by road: Moscow - 2550 km, Belgrade - 416 km, Thessaloniki - 234 km, Sofia - 190 km, Athens - 710 km. Last changes: 05/18/2013
Over the past 20-30 years, the world has changed a lot, people have become more literate, more actively fighting for their interests, rights and freedoms. And in this regard, the borders of various states are increasingly being adjusted or completely new countries appear, such as the Republic of Macedonia.
A little about the countryThe state has become known to the world since September 1991, when the former republic of Yugoslavia declared its independence and became the parliamentary Republic of Macedonia. The total area of the new country is 25,713 km², which is approximately 36% of the area of historical Macedonia. And the capital of the modern country is the city. The official language in the Republic is the Macedonian language, it is spoken by more than 70% of the total population, but thanks to trade and tourism in Macedonia, English is also actively spreading.
In the last decade, Macedonia has been investing great efforts in the development of the tourism business, it is believed that this country is very comfortable and attractive for tourists. And it will become truly unforgettable, because there is beautiful nature, there are a lot and enough offers for active rest.
Where is Macedonia located?
The state of Macedonia is located in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula, has a common southern border with Greece, northern with Yugoslavia, a common western border with, and an eastern border with Bulgaria. The only Balkan country without access to the sea is the Republic of Macedonia, although it has a very good location: there are available minerals in the bowels of the country, even precious metals have been discovered, but their extraction has been postponed due to the small reserves of the deposit. For more than a century, winemaking, textile and tobacco industries have been actively developing in Macedonia.
What's in a name?
The word "Macedonia" has very ancient roots, and the territory of the state has repeatedly changed its borders. In this regard, at the insistence of the Greek government, the UN and official international documents consider the correct name to be the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, but it is often called more simply: the Republic of Macedonia or Macedonia.
It should be borne in mind that the historical region of Macedonia, the region in Greece Aegean Macedonia or part of Bulgaria, Pirin Macedonia are completely different territories.
Climate and weather in Macedonia
The northern part of the Balkan Peninsula belongs to the temperate continental mountain climate, but the southern part of the country boasts warmer climatic conditions: the proximity of the Mediterranean affects.
In summer, as a rule, it is hot and dry, the average daily temperature fluctuates around +22 degrees, closer to the northern border it is always cooler - up to +15 degrees. In Macedonia, the winter weather is very comfortable. At night, the thermometer drops to an average of -7, but during the day it becomes much warmer - +5 degrees. As a rule, precipitation falls in winter from 500 mm on average across the country and up to 1700-2000 mm in the mountains, where snow can lie from November to March.
The tourist season is the period from May to September, when there is practically no precipitation, and air temperatures are guaranteed to stay above zero degrees.
Macedonian population and religion
Today, more than 2.1 million citizens of different nationalities, mostly Slavic, live in the country. Most of the population of the country are Macedonians, according to the census they are about 64%, Albanians live about 26%. The remaining 10% includes Serbs, Turks, Gypsies and other nationalities.
Slavic roots also make themselves felt in the religious issue: about 67-68% of Macedonians consider themselves Orthodox Christians, we can say that this state religion Republic of Macedonia. A little less than 30% of the inhabitants are Muslims, mostly Albanians who live in this country.
History of Macedonia
The territory of the small state of Macedonia first appeared back in the distant 5th century BC, and at different times was part of or belonged to various empires and states: the Roman and Byzantine empires, the Serbian kingdom, the Ottoman Empire, Ancient Macedonia and Payonia.
In the XIV century, all the lands of modern of Eastern Europe were enslaved by the Ottoman Empire. In the 19th century Bulgarians began to fight for their national rights. During the Balkan Wars, the borders of many states constantly changed, merged into one and divided again, until, finally, the territory of ancient Macedonia was divided between Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia, the latter in 1929 became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1991, the Republic of Macedonia gained sovereignty and independence.
Natural beauty of Macedonia
The nature of Macedonia is both high and smooth lakes and plains. For a long time this country has been called "the land of mountains and lakes". The territory of the Republic is crossed by two mountain systems: from the western side of the Pindus Mountains, and from the east to the center of the Rhodope Mountains. The height of the local mountains is on average 2500 meters. Macedonia is a zone of seismic activity, sometimes there are tangible strong earthquakes. The most famous happened in 1963, as a result, the capital of Macedonia, Skopje, was badly damaged.
Two mountain ranges are separated by large rivers Strumica and Vardar, they cross the whole of Macedonia, are considered the largest and deepest. But the legendary lakes are located mainly in the south-west of the Republic, the largest of them are lakes and. The local landscapes are charming and incomparable. Close to the lakes are open National parks to preserve the flora and fauna of the country. The vegetation is represented by real forests, consisting of deciduous and coniferous species, but in the western part of Macedonia, the slopes of the mountains are more often covered with frequent shrubs than trees.
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Sights of Macedonia
The historically rich territory of ancient Macedonia could not but leave sights of different eras and directions. The most famous and dearest place in memory is considered to be in the city, which since 1980, together with the city and the lake, has been one of the objects world heritage UNESCO.
About the capital Skopje, we can say that this is the largest and most diverse attraction of the country. It has preserved unique architectural monuments from antiquity to the Middle Ages. Especially popular with historians and tourists, leading directly to, is the modest Orthodox Church of the Holy Savior of the 18th century and two Muslim mosques, created in 1492: the Sultan-Murat mosque and the mosque near one of the oldest -, and many other memorable places and buildings.
Near the capital, the ancient city of Skupi is partially preserved, and near the city there is another ancient heritage - the city of Heraclea Lincestis, it is believed that its founder in the 4th century BC. was Philip II of Macedon himself. Archaeological excavations are periodically conducted around both objects and scientists work.
In the city, as if by order, many architectural masterpieces have been preserved: the Gorna Porta gate, the ruins of a Christian basilica with ancient mosaics, and others. Lake Ohrid is a real treasure of Macedonia, it is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level and is considered one of the cleanest lakes on the planet. Ohrid is a wonderful resort in Macedonia: a lot of wonderful, medical sanatoriums and hotels have been built here, offering a full range of services for a good rest.
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Recreation and entertainment in Macedonia
In addition to visiting unique ancient monuments and walking through museums and parks, Macedonia has developed many tourist routes for hiking and mountain tourism. Outdoor enthusiasts will be offered rafting, and the most fearless ones can walk along the cave paths of speleologists.
Local lakes are especially attractive for avid fishermen, and the mountain slopes are always ready to receive skiers and snowboarders. , for example, Krushevo and Popova Shapka, in addition to the main services, often offer horseback riding or a sightseeing bike ride in the surroundings. Another famous snow resort in Macedonia, Mavrovo, is famous not only for the largest one located on its territory, but also for its hotels, which are built in the traditional style of the country. The authorities of the Republic actively support the development of such recreational areas, besides, not all people who love snow are ready to ski.
in the capital and major cities nightclubs are open from late evening until morning. And in addition to the usual New Year and Christmas, of the unusual popular tourists, May 24 (Saints Cyril and Methodius Day) and October 11 (Partisan Day) are especially loved.
Where to eat in Macedonia?
There is a modern mix of culinary masterpieces from all the neighbors on the Balkan Peninsula, but the trend of Turkish motives is felt most of all. Distinctive feature classic menu - a large number of fruits and vegetables, which are added to almost every dish, as well as cheese. From meat, Macedonians love lamb and beef more, neighbors from Greece instilled a love for seafood.
Ohrid trout is a local delicacy; it is baked, fried, and salted with pleasure. Perhaps one of the appetizing dishes is trout baked in a pot with prunes under a sauce of beaten eggs, garlic and various greens - “pastrmka”. All the abundance of local cuisine can be tasted in the excellent restaurant Kaj Kanevche in Ohrid.
We recommend that you taste all the traditions of delicious Mediterranean cuisine in the capital's restaurant Vodenica Mulino. This is a cozy place where fresh meat, fish, classic Macedonian dishes and snacks are always offered.
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Macedonia Hotels
Every year they become more and more popular, so we recommend that you take care of the urgent housing issue in advance. Throughout the country, there are various star ratings from simple hostels where you can rent a bed to executive apartments.
For example, the Villa Mesokastro 4* hotel, popular with family tourists, is designed for only 14 cozy comfortable rooms with balconies and views of Orchid Lake, bicycle and boat rental services, internet are provided to guests. Always good service and a great restaurant. And in the capital Skopje, not far from the center, the Hotel Monaco Skopje 3 * is famous, designed for 11 rooms. There is a good bar for guests, breakfast is served in the room, inconspicuous service, there is a car rental.
For independent travelers in Macedonia, the camping service is well developed. The most popular temporary camp is the Autocamp Hradiste in the Ohrid Lake area. You can live in your own tent or rent a small tourist house. In addition, modern campsites provide telephone, Internet and even sauna services.
shoppingMacedonia is one of the most profitable EU countries for shopping, rather low prices are fixed here compared to neighboring countries (often lower by 40-50%). AT big cities there are many different souvenir shops and craft shops, so it is unlikely that you will face the question,. Perhaps the most popular purchase among foreigners are "opants" - national leather shoes with a toe turned up.
The Macedonians make amazing wooden paintings by hand: although this is an expensive purchase, it is very durable and practical. A rare gift is Ohrid freshwater pearls and products made from it, but, alas, you will never be able to determine for sure that this is not a fake. As a rule, shops in the Republic of Macedonia are open to customers from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, on Saturday usually until 3:00 pm. Sunday is generally considered a public holiday.
On the territory of small Macedonia there are two international ones - in the capital Skopje and the tourist center Ohrid, all flights are served by two airlines. Due to the small area of the state, there are no domestic flights in the country, but the bus service is well developed.
Bus transportation is relatively inexpensive and connects all major cities with each other. If you are used to planning your vacation and all your travels in advance, we recommend taking care of bus tickets as well. This is a very popular mode of transport for both the local population and most visitors.
Urban transport major cities- Shuttle buses, but the fleet is quite outdated compared to intercity routes. In addition, taxi work is well developed in cities, and several large companies provide cars for rent.
Do I need a visa for Macedonia?
Until March 15, 2016, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are lightened. Those. for the purpose of visiting relatives or traveling as a tourist, registration is not required, provided that the visit does not exceed 90 days per six months. In this case, you do not need to provide invitations, hotel reservation certificates and other mandatory documents, only a passport and medical insurance. For residents of Ukraine, the visa-free regime is valid until 2018.
If you are going for a total period of more than 90 days, you must definitely apply for a visa at the Embassy of Macedonia. A valid Schengen visa also allows you to enter the country without issuing a separate Macedonian visa, but in this case, a single stay should not exceed 15 days, and the total period of visiting the country should not exceed 90 days in six months.
How to get to Macedonia?
It is more convenient to get to Macedonia from most European countries, Russia, Ukraine and the CIS countries by plane by direct flight or with a transfer in Belgrade further to the airport in Skopje or Ohrid. There are no direct flights from Moscow, but besides Belgrade there are connecting flights through Rome, Vienna, Dubai, earlier, through Istanbul.
A train journey can only be planned if you are not limited in time. This pleasure is not cheap, and every year some of the international destinations are gradually canceled. Today there are two main routes: Moscow - Budapest - Belgrade - Skopje or Kyiv - Sofia - Nis - Skopje. From Greece and Serbia there are direct routes to Macedonia, the train schedule must be checked with the operator.
Macedonia is located in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula. From the south it borders on Greece, the northern neighbor is Yugoslavia, in the west and east the country is adjacent to Albania and Bulgaria, respectively. Macedonia is the only country in the Balkans that does not have access to the sea.
This small state in the 5th century BC was glorified throughout the world by the famous Alexander III (the Great), who wanted to make it the center of his vast state.
The official name of the country, which is followed by the UN, is the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It is often simply referred to as Macedonia. Just do not confuse the state with the historical region of Macedonia and the territorial regions of neighboring countries (in Greece there is Aegean Macedonia, and in Bulgaria - Pirin Macedonia).
Several peoples live on the territory of the state, most of them are Macedonians (64%) and Albanians (26%), there are also Serbs, Turks and Gypsies, but their percentage in the total population is very small. At the same time, Macedonian, which belongs to the South Slavic group of languages, is considered the official language of the country. It is spoken by more than 70% of the population.
About 68% of the inhabitants identify themselves as members of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. But there are also adherents of other faiths. Approximately 30% are Muslims, the rest of the population adheres to other beliefs. Mostly Islam is practiced by Albanians living in Macedonia.
Thanks to the favorable geographical position of Macedonia, such industries as winemaking, tobacco and textiles are successfully developing here. The country has mineral resources and precious metals However, their number is so insignificant that the development of their deposits is considered unprofitable.
Recently, Macedonia has become one of the most attractive countries on the Balkan Peninsula for tourism development. Gorgeous natural conditions, a large number of attractions, excellent opportunities for outdoor activities - all this brings Macedonia to the leading places among the tourist countries of the region.
Capital |
Skopje |
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Population |
2,057,284 people (as of 2010) |
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Population density |
81 people/km² |
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Macedonian |
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Religion |
orthodoxy |
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Form of government |
parliamentary republic |
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Macedonian denar |
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Timezone |
UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer |
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International dialing code |
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Internet domain zone |
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Electricity |
Climate and weather
Macedonia has a temperate continental mountain climate. The southern part of the country boasts climatic conditions similar to those of the Mediterranean. The summer period is characterized by hot and dry weather. The average daily air temperature is about +22°C. Somewhat colder in the mountains +15°C.
Winter in Macedonia is incredibly mild and very wet. At night the temperature drops to -7 °C and during the day the air warms up to +5 °C. Atmospheric precipitation falls almost exclusively in winter. Their number varies depending on the region of the country. In the northern part of Macedonia falls up to 500 mm, and on the western slopes of the mountains - more than 1700 mm per year. In mountainous areas, snow lasts from late November to early March.
The tourist season in the country lasts from May to September, when the air temperature rarely cools down to sub-zero temperatures and the amount of precipitation is minimal.
Nature
The nature of Macedonia is extremely diverse. Here you can observe silent high mountains, picturesque valleys, beautiful deep lakes. That is why many people call Macedonia "the land of mountains and lakes". The territory of the state is divided by two mountain systems - Pindus in the west of Macedonia and Rhodopes in the east and center of the country. The average height of the local mountains fluctuates around 2500 m.
The natural landscapes of the eastern part of the country abound with dense deciduous and coniferous forests. Such types of forests are also present in the west of Macedonia, but for the most part these mountain slopes are covered with frequent shrubs.
The mountain ranges are separated from each other by the valleys of the Strumitsa and Vardar rivers, which flow through the whole country and are the largest in the state. In the south-west of Macedonia are the largest lakes in the country, Prespa and Orchid. The unique landscapes surrounding them captivate the imagination. Several national parks are organized around them, which are designed to preserve the numerous species of animals and plants living on their territory.
It is worth noting that the region of Macedonia is seismically active. Sometimes earthquakes reach quite destructive force. The last of them, which occurred in 1963, the capital of Macedonia was very badly destroyed. Skopje.
Attractions
Macedonia is a whole complex of beautiful old sights. The most famous of them is the Slavic Monastery in the city of Ohrid, built on the shores of a picturesque lake, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The monastery owns more than 800 icons painted in the Byzantine style in the 11th-14th centuries. Experts consider this collection to be the second most important after the Moscow Tretyakov Gallery.
The capital of Macedonia Skopje is one big attraction. Here are located unique monuments architecture of antiquity and the Middle Ages. Of particular interest are the famous Turkish baths, built in 1466, a small Orthodox church of the 17th century, Muslim Mustafa Pasha mosques and Sultan Murat 1492 built.
Foreign tourists show particular interest in the ruins of ancient cities. The most famous of them are buy, located near the modern capital of Macedonia, and Heraclea Lincestis, which is located in Bitola. It is said that this city was founded by Philip II of Macedon himself in the 4th century BC. BC e.
For ecotourists, picturesque natural places that amaze with their splendor are noteworthy. One of the favorite places of this category of travelers is the famous Doyran lake, Radika gorge, which is recognized as the most beautiful canyon Western Europe. And the waterfall of the same name is considered the highest on the Balkan Peninsula.
The real pearl of Macedonia is Ohrid Lake, which is located at an altitude of about 700 m above sea level. This place is one of the most beautiful and clean on earth. That is why the lake is the most popular resort in Europe. The entire coast of Lake Ohrid is built up with hotels and sanatoriums offering their customers a different range of services.
Ohrid is famous for its masterpieces ancient architecture: Samuil's Fortress, Saint Sophia Basilica, Gorna Port Gate, ruins of christian basilica with ancient mosaics, church Sveti Giovan Kaneo and others.
Food
The national cuisine of Macedonia is a mixture of the culinary traditions of neighboring countries, and there is also a significant influence of Turkish cuisine.
Macedonian cuisine differs from others in the abundance of vegetables and fruits. They are added to almost all dishes. The use of meat, mainly lamb and beef, as well as seafood, is widespread.
Ohrid trout is considered the pride of Macedonian cuisine. Brynza is very popular among local culinary specialists; it is added to almost all dishes, both vegetable and meat, as well as fish.
The most popular dish among foreigners is "pastrmka" - baked trout with prunes in a pot, served with sauce with beaten eggs, garlic and herbs. The most favorite dish among the local population is "aivar" - a salad of stewed peppers with beans and eggplant. In any Macedonian restaurant or cafe, you can see another popular local treat - this is “tavche gravce”. This masterpiece is traditionally prepared from beans (gravche) baked in a special frying pan (tavche). This dish is also widespread in neighboring Greece.
Of the desserts, the most favorite among Macedonians is "pulumba", which is made from unleavened dough fried in vegetable oil and served with sweet syrup. In small restaurants in Skopje, you can try the famous Turkish kebabs.
Every Macedonian must have fresh bread, cheese and herbs on the table. They consume these products in unlimited quantities. Sometimes as cold appetizer famous "kaymak"- fermented milk.
The male half of the population of the country, and tourists who come here love to treat themselves to traditional Macedonian vodka - "rakia". This moonshine tastes very similar to Georgian "chacha" or Italian grappa. Macedonia is widely known as a wonderful wine producing country. Its magnificent red wines have a special taste and amazing aroma.
For all its sophistication, food in Macedonia is considered one of the cheapest in all of Europe. A good dinner for two people in an expensive restaurant will cost 20 €. And in small cafes, the average bill is about 3 € per person.
Accommodation
Throughout Macedonia, there are many different levels of hotels and hotels. Here you can find both luxurious apartments and small, but very comfortable rooms in hostels.
It is worth noting that before arriving in Macedonia, you should take care of booking a room in advance, since every year the resort areas of this country are becoming more and more popular. If you have not booked your accommodation in advance, only private apartments are open for you, the choice of which is not so huge.
Tourist accommodation in Macedonia is represented by hotels, guest houses and luxury apartments. At the same time, there are not very many hotels, as such, in the country. And representatives worldwide famous companies not at all. Only in 2013 it is planned to open the first hotel in Macedonia Marriott.
Most of these institutions are located in resort areas. For foreigners, popular family mini-hotels, motels and apart-hotels are available in this area. At ski resorts, you can spend the night in small, but quite comfortable pensions.
Most of the newlyweds who come to Macedonia for their honeymoon prefer to stay in small hotels that are part of the network Hostelling International. In such institutions, the practice of issuing good discounts for resettlement around the world is widespread.
Campsites are a great alternative to hotels and inns. This type of accommodation is especially suitable for those who like to travel by car. The most popular not only among tourists, but also among local youth is camping. "Autocamp Hradiste" located near Ohrid Lake. Small cozy houses will give your rest a special zest. In such campsites, you can use many of the services provided in ordinary hotels - this is a sauna with a swimming pool, and small modern shops, and telephone, and even free wireless Internet.
Almost all hotels and hostels in Macedonia are classified according to the international system. However, in most cases, the prices for living in such institutions are excessively high. So, for the accommodation of one person, on average, from 20 € to 40 € are paid.
Entertainment and recreation
As a rule, travel agencies offer their clients numerous excursions to famous sights. Skopje, Ohrid and other famous cities.
Ancient Macedonia is of interest for its unique, miraculously preserved monuments ancient culture. Many tourists prefer to come to this amazing country only to get impressions from contemplating with their own eyes the numerous traces of an ancient civilization. Meanwhile, beautiful Macedonia arouses genuine interest among true connoisseurs of magnificent and unique nature.
Many major travel companies call Macedonia the best center in Europe for lovers of outdoor activities. The excellent geographical position and the unique relief fascinate numerous connoisseurs of mountain and hiking, rafting and speleology. And the local lakes have long attracted the attention of avid fishermen with an incredible catch. Macedonia will delight lovers of skiing and snowboarding with its beautiful ski resorts, which also provide additional services to their visitors. For example, in the famous Krusevo, you can make exciting hiking and cycling tours around the city. Horseback riding is also very popular.
Another well-known resort in Macedonia, Mavrovo, is famous not only for its excellent skiing and climbing trails, but also for its charming hotels built in the traditional style of the country. Due to the increasing interest of foreign tourists in such resort areas, the Macedonian authorities decided to create several more similar recreational and ski centers in the country.
In the capital of Macedonia, in the evening and at night, you can visit various nightclubs, which are mostly preferred by young people.
Purchases
The European statistical agency Eurostat has recognized Macedonia as the most profitable country to buy. Here are the lowest prices for goods throughout the European Union. At the same time, some goods cost 50% less than in neighboring countries.
In the major cities of Macedonia, you can find small shops and shops selling souvenirs everywhere. The most popular item for purchases from foreigners is the national leather shoes - "opantsy". These shoes are notable for their incredibly long and pointed toe, curved up. These shoes are made strictly by hand. Usually foreigners order tiny "opants" as a souvenir.
Also notable gifts brought from Macedonia are items made from Ohrid freshwater pearls. When buying such products, you should be wary of fakes that have recently flooded the jewelry market.
Many tourists prefer to buy unique wooden paintings made by locals exclusively by hand. True, the cost of such a work of art is quite high, about 60 € per painting.
Most shops in Macedonia are open from 8:00 to 20:00 on weekdays, and on Saturday, local merchants do not stay longer than 15:00. Sunday is a public holiday in Macedonia.
Transport
Macedonia has two major international airports- This is in Skopje and Ohrid. International flights are served by two Macedonian airlines - Avioimpex and Macedonian Airlines. Domestic flights are not organized in the country due to the small size of the state.
Little Macedonia boasts a well-developed bus service, especially the one that links the major cities of the country. This type of transport is considered the most convenient and inexpensive when moving around the state. It should be borne in mind that bus transportation is very popular, both among the local population and among visiting tourists, so when planning a trip, you need to book seats in advance.
Public transport in big cities is also represented by buses, however, unlike intercity and international transport, the fleet of urban vehicles, judging by their appearance, has not been modernized for a very long time. Payment for travel in such transport is carried out by means of coupons, which are sold at every newsstand or from the driver. The fare in the city bus is 0.4 €. For intercity transportation, it is worth paying a little more, depending on the distance of the trip.
You can also use the car rental services provided by several large companies. In this case, a day of rental will cost you 35 €.
Most tourists prefer to travel around the country with the help of bus service, since the railways pass at a considerable distance from the main attractions. In general, Macedonian railways are relatively underdeveloped. There are only two main branches here: Skopje - Gevgelija(city on the border with Greece) and Skopje - Bitola. Due to the outdated railroad tracks, the speed of trains is often obscenely low. The distance from the capital to Bitola is 200 km, the train overcomes in just over four hours. Many Europeans, accustomed to increased speeds movements feel uncomfortable in such trains. It should be noted that the quality of the rolling stock leaves much to be desired. Usually, locals and tourists use rail transport only when they need to travel to the Greek border. It is this method of transportation to Gevgelija that is considered the most popular here. The cost of one train ticket to the border with Greece is approximately 4 €.
Connection
Communication in Macedonia is well developed. The telephone network is widespread in every city. On the streets of large settlements, you can find pay phones from which you can make a call not only within the city, but even abroad. Such devices work using special plastic cards that can be purchased at any postal kiosk. The cost of a call from a payphone is approximately 0.2 €. To call abroad, you can also use a phone in a hotel or inn, but such a call will cost much more (about 0.6 €), and the connection quality will be worse than from a street booth.
Almost the entire territory of Macedonia, with the exception of certain mountainous regions, has cellular coverage of the standard GSM-900. For communication within the country, you can purchase local SIM cards. The price for them ranges from 10 € to 20 €. By the way, local mobile operator Makedonski Telekomunikacii supports roamings of all major European cellular companies.
The worldwide network can only be found in large cities and resort areas. As you approach rural and mountainous areas, this luxury will gradually disappear. Internet with regular access can be found in any cafe, hotel and inn. The connection speed is high, and the price for one hour of using the Internet is less than 1 €.
Safety
Macedonia is considered a relatively safe European country. In Christian areas, you can absolutely not worry about your personal safety. Here, the police strictly monitors possible situations of cheating tourists. But in the areas inhabited by Albanians, no one can guarantee you such security. It is there that cases of petty fraud and robbery most often occur.
AT high level road safety in Macedonia is undeniable. The quality of local roads delights foreign visitors. True, on some mountain roads there are sections that are not fenced off from rockfalls and have quite low light. Therefore, it is better to travel in such areas only with a personal driver. The driving style of the locals is not as aggressive as in neighboring countries.
Macedonia boasts of its safe products and excellent hygienic conditions. Here you can taste fresh milk and fresh fish without fear. Many tourists admire the quality of local tap water.
Business climate
Recently, Macedonia has become more and more attractive for foreign investment. Winemaking and viticulture are recognized as the most successful for this. It is in this industry that foreign businessmen prefer to contribute their funds.
Some of the investors prefer the development of mineral deposits in Macedonia, but most opt for the tourism business, which is becoming more profitable and profitable every year. Given the growing interest in the country and its resorts on the part of foreign tourists, investors, without much risk, contribute their funds to this particular sector of the Macedonian economy. In addition, the state authorities are doing everything possible to reduce taxes and duties in order to attract more foreign businessmen.
Real estate
Thanks to its excellent location, comfortable weather conditions and magnificent natural scenery, Macedonia is an excellent option for buying property. The country provides good economic prospects for business development. It is worth noting that real estate prices here are relatively low.
So the cost of housing in the capital of the country, Skopje, reaches up to 350 € per square meter. For this money you can buy not only standard apartments but also nice private houses. But in the elite districts of the capital, the cost of living space immediately increases by 2, or even 2.5 times. And when buying real estate in the Vodno area, where long years representatives lived ruling elite countries, you will need to pay up to 2800 € per square meter. Building plots on the outskirts of Skopje can be purchased at a price of 460 € per one hundred square meters. However, it should be borne in mind that Macedonian land is not sold to foreign citizens.
In other large cities, the cost of housing is much lower than in the capital, but when buying real estate in ancient areas filled with magnificent historical and architectural monuments, you need to shell out an amount almost equal to the price tags in the capital.
When visiting Macedonia for the most comfortable stay without unpleasant incidents, you need to know a few rules of behavior in public places. Firstly, you should not talk about politics in public places, local residents do not really like to discuss this topic. Secondly, be careful when visiting Albanian areas. Some of them are notorious for their negative attitude towards foreigners. Thirdly, when traveling around the country, it is advisable to avoid the territories bordering Serbia and Kosovo. Typically, travel to these areas requires special permission from the authorities.
In Macedonia, there is a ban on smoking in all public places. Even local bars, cafes and restaurants are non-smoking.
If you want to use the services of a rented car, it is worth remembering that registration is carried out only if you have paid insurance, an international driver's license and a deposit. In addition, you have to pay a local tax, which is approximately 15% of the rental amount, and an insurance fee. When traveling around the country, you should know that some roads are toll, travel is paid for with special coupons that can be purchased at the border of the state.
Visa Information
A visa is required to enter Macedonia. To apply for it, you need a foreign passport with a validity period of at least 3 months from the end of the trip, one photo, a questionnaire, a tourist voucher or a hotel reservation confirmation, round-trip tickets and medical insurance. The consular fee is 10 €, for urgent registration - 25 €. Children under 6 receive a visa free of charge.
For the preparation of the necessary documents, you can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Moscow at: 117292, Moscow, st. Dm. Ulyanova 16, bldg. 2, p. 8, office 509-510.
Republic of Macedonia - formerly the southernmost part of Yugoslavia, now independent state, located in the north of the Balkan Peninsula and has no access to the sea.
The capital of Macedonia - the city of Skopje was founded by the Illyrians, who called it in those days - Skupi. Since the 7th century, the Slavs began to settle in it.
At various times, Skopje was part of Byzantium, Ottoman Empire was the capital of Serbia. Several times the city was seriously affected by earthquakes.
Today, the population of the capital is about half a million people, of which the Macedonians make up the majority. Serbs, Albanians, Gypsies also live in it.
Attractions Skopje
Tourists coming to Skopje have a beautiful panorama. The capital meets with a cross, which is installed on Mount Krstovar in honor of the adoption of Christianity. It was installed back in the 3rd century BC and since then this memorial sign has guarded the city.
Skopje is quite developed public transport, so the budget will not be difficult to get, for example, to the center. The city has 80 bus and 4 tram lines.
It cannot be said that Skopje is a modern capital, nothing has been built or changed here for a long time, buses and trams plying along the routes of old models. But with the natural and architectural beauty that this city is generously endowed with, everything old fades into the background. Travelers admire the splendor that the city lives and breathes, keeps and cherishes for centuries.
Walking through the streets of the city, you can meet a large number of old monuments. The fortress of Kale is one of them. It is located in the center of the city on a hill in the Vardara valley. Rising to the fortress, you can look at all the surroundings of the capital and magnificent landscapes.
The city also has its own zoo, of course, not the same as in Europe, here the animals are going through hard times, but volunteers are trying to improve the conditions of detention, people come here every day to clean the cages, feed the animals and donate money for restoration.
Symbols of Skopje
Undoubtedly, every resident of Skopje will tell about the symbol of the city, which is considered to be a stone bridge that unites the banks of the Vardar River. It was built in the 15th century, the inhabitants of the city keep the bridge and restore it after another destruction. In the evening, the lights that illuminate it make the landscape even more mysterious, there is a feeling of a fairy tale and magic, taking tourists to a time when the latest technology were not so developed, but people lived, built and enjoyed the little they had.
According to legend and numerous historical testimonies, Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, canonized as a saint and known for her charitable work. In this regard, it has long become a tradition that every guest of the city tries to do something good and kind here.