North Macedonia Become a Travel Agent Near Me

Overview

Introduction

North Macedonia, the only state to secede from Yugoslavia without bloodshed, finally fell victim to the Balkan curse in 2001. The country's ethnic Albanian minority, which increased with the influx of refugees from neighboring Serbia and Kosovo, took up arms against the North Macedonian government and demanded greater autonomy. Most of the clashes took place in the northern part of the country, though there were bombings in the capital, Skopje, as well.

Since a Western-brokered peace deal in 2001, however, the situation in North Macedonia has been relatively stable and visitors should not experience any troubles. As the country grows economically, its capital of Skopje has seen a number of urban developments, including the addition of office complexes, shopping malls and international hotels.

Geography

North Macedonia is a landlocked nation at the center of the Balkans, surrounded by Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece. Most of the country sits atop a mountainous plateau furrowed with deep valleys. Water features include the Vardar River, which runs all the way through North Macedonia before emptying into the Aegean Sea.

Large, deep lakes created by tectonic activity are found in the southwestern and southeastern corners of the country. As that suggests, the area is highly susceptible to seismic events, and earthquakes have devastated parts of North Macedonia again and again through its history.

North Macedonia was once considered the "orchard of old Yugoslavia" because of its rich fertile valleys, huge fish-filled lakes and wide variety of fauna including eagle, vulture, brown bear, wolf, wild boar, chamois and lynx. As much as 35% of the landscape is wooded, mostly deciduous, and three national parks have been established since the late 1940s.

History

Situated on an ancient trade route from Rome to Constantinople, North Macedonia bears the mark of many cultures. Over the centuries, North Macedonia was ruled by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottoman Turks, all of whom erected various monuments, churches and fortifications, as well as leaving behind the stamp of their various traditions and religions. For a time, control of the area changed hands repeatedly as Byzantium, Bulgaria and Serbia struggled to gain and keep it.

Under the Ottomans, who wrested the area from the Serbs in 1389, the larger region called Macedonia encompassed much of today's northern Greece and part of today's Bulgaria. Turkish rule was never comfortable, however, and was marked by a series of rebellions. Independence from the Turks was achieved following the bloody Balkan Wars of 1912-13.

At that time, greater Macedonia was partitioned into three sectors parceled out among Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria. Then, during World War II, the area was occupied by Bulgaria, which drove many Macedonians to join forces with partisans led by Yugoslavia's Josip Tito. Before the war had ended, an assembly met and agreed that postwar Macedonia would be established as a republic within Yugoslavia.

Today's North Macedonia became the southernmost province of Yugoslavia after the war. When Yugoslavia collapsed in 1990, Macedonia declared its independence. The initial separation was peaceful, although conflict in neighboring nations repeatedly threatened to spill over the borders. As well, tensions with Greece arose from a dispute over use of the name Macedonia, and for a time a Greek trade embargo and economic sanctions against Yugoslavia hamstrung Macedonia's efforts to expand and reform its economy. Additionally, ethnic and religious tensions focused around a growing community of ethnic Albanians.

Issues with Greece are more settled now that the official name Republic of North Macedonia has been accepted in international circles (rather than simply Macedonia), and a highway runs from Skopje to Thessaloniki in northern Greece.

In December 2005, North Macedonia became a candidate for membership in the European Union. The country is also a member of international organizations, including the World Trade Organization and has applied for NATO membership.

Snapshot

North Macedonia's main attractions are Illyrian and Roman ruins, religious art (frescoes and icons), mountain scenery, skiing, beautiful lakes, historical sites, fishing, gorges, marvelous churches and monasteries, folk arts, fascinating culture, friendly people and relatively low prices.

North Macedonia will appeal to adventurous travelers who have already been to Europe once or twice and are ready to get off the beaten track. There are luxury hotels in the major cities, but expect average to basic accommodations elsewhere. The roads and general infrastructure are nowhere near U.K. or U.S. standards; delays and schedule changes are likely but no more than are typical for the region.

Potpourri

A Macedonian man named Risto Pulevski claims rock star Peter Gabriel stole his song and turned it into a hit for himself as When the Earth Sleeps. Pulevski claims to have written the song in 1960, and titled it Dali Znaes Mila Majko (Do You Know Dear Mother). The song has been popular in Macedonia for many years. One of the verses in Gabriel's version is sung in Macedonian.

The mixture of cultures in Macedonia inspired a word in French for mixed salad: macedoine.

Half of North Macedonia's exports go via one road to Thessaloniki, Greece.

The city of Tetovo, capital of the country's ethnic Albanians, is home to a number of mosques, including the lovely 19th-century Painted Mosque.

Mother Theresa was born in Skopje, Macedonia, and not Albania, although she had Albanian citizenship.

The many lush and rich areas of North Macedonia were once referred to as the "orchards of Yugoslavia."

Lake Ohrid is the Balkan Peninsula's deepest lake, as well as one of the oldest in the world.

The annual Ohrid Summer Festival (mid-July to late August) is the major cultural event in North Macedonia. Held in a well-preserved Roman amphitheater and in magnificent churches, it features classical music, jazz and ballet. An international festival of poetry is held in nearby Struga in late August.

The Oscar-nominated film Before the Rain, set in the tiny village of Stavica, is a good examination of Macedonian life and culture and features some memorable Macedonian scenery.