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The main pride of Macedonia is Lake Ohrid, a magnificent “pearl” in the middle of the mountains, able to compete with any, the most picturesque and replicated “tourist” lake. Huge, located among rocks of amazing beauty, it is not only beautiful, but quite suitable for swimming in the summer season, as it always warms up in July-August to a comfortable temperature.

According to wholevehicles, Struga is one of the most popular cities among tourists located on Ohrid. Through its center flows the Black Dream River, which connects Lake Ohrid with the Adriatic Sea. The city is small – only 18 thousand inhabitants. The houses are low, no more than two floors, buried in greenery and flowers. Around – the mountains are unusually beautiful, they do not differ in height or large outcrops of rock, everything here is soft, harmonious, calm, as in the pictures in a children’s book. The “entourage” of seemingly endless mountain ranges is also fascinating – picturesque villages nestled against the slopes, clean springs, many ancient churches and monasteries.

How to get there

By bus: you need to go from the capital of Macedonia, the city of Skopje, travel time is 3-3.5 hours. You can also get from other countries, there are international lines Struga – Sofia; Struga – Istanbul; Struga – Skopje – Belgrade.

By train: There are trains from Skopje to Struga.

By plane: there is no direct connection, in summer there are charter flights from Skopje to Ohrid airport. Then by bus or taxi, you can also fly with a transfer flight from Belgrade to Skopje, then by bus.

Hotels

Tourism is actively developing in the city, so you can choose a variety of accommodation options: hotels, campsites on the lake and in the mountains, or settle in the private sector, which should not be neglected at all – the prices here are lower, and the conditions can be very good.

The banks of the Black Dream River are a great place for solitary walks, and every year at the end of August, here you can listen to poets from different countries reading their poems on the bridges of the river, which still remembers ancient times.

Entertainment and attractions of Struga

The main attraction of Struga is the Church of St. George (1835), which was erected on the site of the former St. George’s Church in the very center of the city. The fresco paintings on the walls and ceiling of the 19th century are of artistic value, but the real treasure of the temple is the gallery of icons from the 13th to the 19th century. The most famous and revered icon is the image of St. George, written in 1267. On the reverse side of the board there is an inscription – Struga, Ohrid.

The Museum of Nature, founded in 1928 by the scientist Nikola Nezlobinsky, is also noteworthy. Originally included his personal collection of insects, birds, fish and animals from the Ohrid and Prespan lakes. Now the collection is regularly updated with new items.

The banks of the Black Dream River are a great place for solitary walks, and every year at the end of August, here you can listen to poets from different countries reading their poems on the bridges of the river, which still remembers ancient times.

The gallery of Vangel Kodjoman, one of the most famous contemporary artists in Macedonia, is also worth a look. Most of his works are dedicated to his native land and its people. In his paintings, the life of the old Balkan villages comes to life, a life that no longer exists, but which is constantly felt in the lifestyle and spirit of today’s Macedonia.

Surroundings of Struga

Be sure to visit the cave church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Kalista, which is high in the rocks on the western shore of Lake Ohrid. The entrance is through the wall, which is also a church apse, from where you enter a real cave. The interior decoration of the temple dates back to the 15th-16th centuries. Nearby, on the coastal cliff, there is another cave church dedicated to St. Athanasius. The oldest frescoes of this temple belong to the end of the 14th or the first half of the 15th century.

The cave church of the Archangel Michael in Radozhd is one of the most ancient churches located on the shores of Lake Ohrid. Fresco painting on the walls of the temple dates back to the end of the 13th century. The most impressive is the image of the Archangel in the depiction of the Miracle in Cana of Galilee. Nearby is a fishing village with excellent fish restaurants.

The cave church of the Archangel Michael in Radozhd is one of the most ancient churches located on the shores of Lake Ohrid.

Located at the foot of the Yablunytsya mountain (about 10 km north of Struga), the wonderful village of Visni is surrounded by beech and oak forests. The cave church of Christ the Savior attracts attention here, which is located at a distance of 3 kilometers on foot from the village along a beautiful mountain canyon. The frescoes that adorn the walls and ceiling of the temple date back to the end of the 14th century.

Vevčani is a large village located 14 km north of Struga. It is located at the foot of the mountain and is surrounded on all sides by rocky giants. The houses here are old, built in a variety of styles, which makes Vevcani one of the most picturesque villages in the Ohrid region. The sound of water flowing through the canals is constantly heard here. The water coming from there has nourished the village fields for centuries. Walk through a wonderful walnut grove, climb the mountains to the village of Gorna Belitsa or enjoy the view of the purest mountain lake, in any case, a visit to Vevcani will be remembered for a long time.

In the mountain village next to Vevčani you can see the early Christian basilica built at the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century. The mosaic floor of the church is decorated with images of flowers, trees, horses, animals and geometric ornaments.

Finally, be sure to take the ancient Roman road Via Ignatio when you are in the Vevcani area. It goes through a beautiful forest to Vaitos, a stop that was always made by trade caravans of the ancient era on the way from the Adriatic Sea to the Black Sea. Here is the most amazing panoramic view of the entire Ohrid Lake.

Gorna Belitsa

Located at an altitude of 1600 m, the village of Gorna Belitsa, near the border with Albania, can be reached by car, bicycle or on foot from Struga or Vevcani. Currently, only two old women live here permanently, the rest of the inhabitants appear only on weekends or holidays. Church of St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa is currently being restored, but the villagers will be happy to tell you about the history of the church and the life of the saint, who is exceptionally revered in the Balkans. There are several guest houses and a modern hotel here. For those who want to enjoy the nature of the mountains, peace and quiet, this accommodation option is simply wonderful.

Developments

This city is the birthplace of Peter and Konstantin Miladinov, the most prominent figures of the Macedonian national revival and Macedonian culture. That is why the largest poetry festival in Macedonia takes place here. In addition, Struga is also known for a very interesting carnival – it takes place in the village of Vevcani on January 14, that is, on the Old New Year, and is the only Orthodox carnival in the world.