Ohrid – the Town of the 365 Churches

Located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, the Republic of Macedonia is a rugged land of beautiful mountains and lakes, rural villages and scattered municipalities. Macedonia is endowed with an abundance of natural and cultural attractions. Two of its lakes, Ohrid and Prespa, are ancient Tectonic lakes surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges. These two lakes are located near each other in the southwestern part of the country. Galicica National Park rises majestically between the two lakes, and Pelister National Park provides a dramatic backdrop for the eastern side of Lake Prespa .

Ohrid is one of the most developed touristic centers in the Republic of Macedonia , with modern touristic objects, with an international fame. The town and the Lake are protected by UNESCO as rare architectonical and natural phenomena.

It is a town on the Ohrid Lake , which originates from ancient times . In the III-rd century it is mentioned as Lihnidos, whereas in the 879-th year, for the first time the name Ohrid appears. In the XI-th century, it was a residency of the King Samuil, and later becomes conquested by Bizantians. Towards the end of the XIV century it falls under the Otoman Empire, as well as the other towns of the Ballkans.

From prehistoric and classical times (when Ohrid was known as Lychnidos, the 'City of Light '), the Lake Ohrid region has been an important centre of culture and learning . The major centre of southern Slav learning was established here in the 10th century, and since that time countless frescos, mosaics, and icons have been created. Over the centuries an enormous and colourful heritage of beautiful architecture, magnificent artefacts, culture, crafts and traditions has evolved.

A stroll around the old town,"'Varos", and port is a great delight. You can see the colourful market, walk down cobblestone lanes past small shops and boutiques to the quayside for superb views of the lake and mountains, up to the fortress past ancient houses to an even more sensational panoramic view, or along the lakeside to Kaneo where the church of St. John juts out into the lake in one of the most romantic settings imaginable.

Ohrid is a town of monasteries and churches. The Monastery of St. Clement, one of the oldest Slav monas- Laketeries, is situated in the old part of the town. In the old town center, near the lake, is the famous Cathedral of St. Sophia, housing magnificent frescoes from the 10th century. The Monastery of St. Naum (9th century) is to be found at the southern end of the lake, in a wonderful natural environment. In July and August the town is the venue of the Ohrid Summer Festival, the most significant cultural event in Macedonia , and of the Balkan Folklore Festival.

You can stroll for hours through its streets, looking at the wide choice of local street waters on offer or else head for the shade of the many churches and museums to capture something of Nessebur's rich and exotic past.

It is said that Ohrid had 365 churches , one for each day of the year. All its basilicas and luxurious mosaics, valuable archaeological sites and an antique theatre confirm that Ohrid (Lychnidos) was a cultural centre of the ancient era. Messages of the Middle Ages have been immortalised in many churches through rich biographies, carving and exceptionally valuable icons.

Lake Ohrid , the blue Macedonian pearl, is one of the oldest and best-preserved lakes in the world. It lies at an altitude of 695m and covers an area of 358km2. Its maximum depth is 288.70m. Near the crystal-clear lake water and the unpolluted environment, a breath of untouched nature is felt. The whispers of the waves of this 4 million-year-old lake tell about its rich and unique flora and fauna which make it a rare world natural museum. The lake teems with delights both for the eye and the stomach. It is famous for its fish, those that grace the table, like trout cooked in a local way, or another tradition of the town - bleak, the small fish from whose scales the world-known Ohrid pearls are made.

The tameness and generosity of the climate have always attracted people. For this reason, civilisations have left numerous traces here, making Ohrid a town of the centuries. With its millennium old history, it is one of the oldest Balkan cities, a living evidence of the cultural competitions of the civilisations for leaving everlasting signs of their existence in this place.

Ohrid is a pearl of old architecture and a treasury of valuable cultural and historical monuments, where the human hand carved the unity of artistic creativity and natural beauty.