Images of the Republic of Macedonia. Hover over a picture to see its caption and click on it to enlarge it.

• Lake Ohrid

  Ohridsko Ezero (Lake Ohrid) is shared by Macedonia and Albania. It offers remarkable potential for cross-border tourism which remains very unexploited (photo © hidden europe).

• Lake Ohrid

  Ohridsko Ezero (Lake Ohrid) is shared by Macedonia and Albania. It offers remarkable potential for cross-border tourism which remains very unexploited (photo © hidden europe).

• Ohrid

  The old city of Ohrid, dominated by the fortress of Tsar Samoil, and the adjacent lake are inscribed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage. The Ohrid complex is Macedonia’s only entry on the UNESCO list (photo © hidden europe).

• Ohrid

  The old city of Ohrid, dominated by the fortress of Tsar Samoil, and the adjacent lake are inscribed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage. The Ohrid complex is Macedonia’s only entry on the UNESCO list (photo © hidden europe).

• St Clement of Ohrid

  In the centre of Ohrid on the shores of the lake stands this larger-than-life statue of St Clement, holding a model of the town in his hands. The selection of buildings included in the ‘model’ (with the juxtaposted crucifix) reveals much of how civic leaders in Ohrid perceive and shape a narrative foregrounding the town’s Orthodox heritage (photo © hidden europe).

• St Clement of Ohrid

  In the centre of Ohrid on the shores of the lake stands this larger-than-life statue of St Clement, holding a model of the town in his hands. The selection of buildings included in the ‘model’ (with the juxtaposted crucifix) reveals much of how civic leaders in Ohrid perceive and shape a narrative foregrounding the town’s Orthodox heritage (photo © hidden europe).

• Sveta Sophia (Ohrid)

  The one-time seat of the Archbishop of Ohrid was for some centuries a mosque, but has since 1912 again served as a church. It boasts fabulous mediaeval frescoes that offer a visual lesson in the ecclesiastical politics of the late 11th-century, giving an Orthodox perspective on the Great Schism of 1054 (photo © hidden europe).

• Sveta Sophia (Ohrid)

  The one-time seat of the Archbishop of Ohrid was for some centuries a mosque, but has since 1912 again served as a church. It boasts fabulous mediaeval frescoes that offer a visual lesson in the ecclesiastical politics of the late 11th-century, giving an Orthodox perspective on the Great Schism of 1054 (photo © hidden europe).

• Main Street (Ohrid)

  Kliment Ohridski, the main pedestrian thoroughfare in modern Ohrid, lies just outside the old town wall. Although named in honour of St Clement, the mediaeval Christian saint and scholar who is patron of Ohrid, the road is curiously devoid of churches. It does however have the Ali-Pasha mosque, the dome of which is just visible (photo © hidden europe).

• Main Street (Ohrid)

  Kliment Ohridski, the main pedestrian thoroughfare in modern Ohrid, lies just outside the old town wall. Although named in honour of St Clement, the mediaeval Christian saint and scholar who is patron of Ohrid, the road is curiously devoid of churches. It does however have the Ali-Pasha mosque, the dome of which is just visible (photo © hidden europe).

• Kaneo

  Once a thriving fishing village on the shores of Lake Ohrid, Kaneo has suffered with the depletion of fish in the lake. But the Kanevce family, who own the waterfront houses, are endeavouring to turn to tourism to revive their fortunes. You can read more about the Kanevce family and Kaneo in the excellent Bradt Guide to Macedonia by Thammy Evans (photo © hidden europe).

• Kaneo

  Once a thriving fishing village on the shores of Lake Ohrid, Kaneo has suffered with the depletion of fish in the lake. But the Kanevce family, who own the waterfront houses, are endeavouring to turn to tourism to revive their fortunes. You can read more about the Kanevce family and Kaneo in the excellent Bradt Guide to Macedonia by Thammy Evans (photo © hidden europe).

• A Macedonian landmark

  Sveti Jovan Church on the cliffs above Kaneo, overlooking Lake Ohrid, is a Macedonian landmark, despite its Armenian-style cupola which is rather atypical of churches in the region (photo © hidden europe).

• A Macedonian landmark

  Sveti Jovan Church on the cliffs above Kaneo, overlooking Lake Ohrid, is a Macedonian landmark, despite its Armenian-style cupola which is rather atypical of churches in the region (photo © hidden europe).

• Ohrid

  The ancient town of Ohrid in southern Macedonia, with (on the right of the image) traditional houses in a style that are very common in Ohrid (photo © hidden europe).

• Ohrid

  The ancient town of Ohrid in southern Macedonia, with (on the right of the image) traditional houses in a style that are very common in Ohrid (photo © hidden europe).

• Jance

  Traditional architecture in a mountain village in western Macedonia. But sadly the days of stone and wood dwellings seem numbered, as more and more locals turn to quick-build concrete structures. We wonder how well those new concrete houses will fare when next an earthquake shakes these remote communities (photo © hidden europe).

• Jance

  Traditional architecture in a mountain village in western Macedonia. But sadly the days of stone and wood dwellings seem numbered, as more and more locals turn to quick-build concrete structures. We wonder how well those new concrete houses will fare when next an earthquake shakes these remote communities (photo © hidden europe).

• Ecotourism initiative

  The village of Jance has lost over half its population in one generation. Yet now there is new hope for this Macedonian village close to the border of Albania as Kefsera Tefikoska and Tefik Tefikoski have opened a very welcoming seven-room hotel in the village (photo © hidden europe).

• Ecotourism initiative

  The village of Jance has lost over half its population in one generation. Yet now there is new hope for this Macedonian village close to the border of Albania as Kefsera Tefikoska and Tefik Tefikoski have opened a very welcoming seven-room hotel in the village (photo © hidden europe).

• Radika Valley

  The Radika rises in Kosovo and drains south through western Macedonia before joining the Crna Drin (Black Drin) and flowing west into Albania. Seen here in Macedonia, forests of hornbeam and oak give way at higher elevations to sub-Alpine landscapes (photo © hidden europe).

• Radika Valley

  The Radika rises in Kosovo and drains south through western Macedonia before joining the Crna Drin (Black Drin) and flowing west into Albania. Seen here in Macedonia, forests of hornbeam and oak give way at higher elevations to sub-Alpine landscapes (photo © hidden europe).

• Hamam baths (Tetovo)

  The former hamam (bath-house) by the River Pena in Tetovo was in ruins when Rebecca West visited in 1937, but happily the restored building now finds new life as an art gallery (photo © hidden europe).

• Hamam baths (Tetovo)

  The former hamam (bath-house) by the River Pena in Tetovo was in ruins when Rebecca West visited in 1937, but happily the restored building now finds new life as an art gallery (photo © hidden europe).

• Street market (Tetovo)

  An area of Tetovo described by Rebecca West (who visited in 1937) as “tongue-tied with decay” is now a thriving hub of commerce, attracting sellers and buyers from across the region (photo © hidden europe).

• Street market (Tetovo)

  An area of Tetovo described by Rebecca West (who visited in 1937) as “tongue-tied with decay” is now a thriving hub of commerce, attracting sellers and buyers from across the region (photo © hidden europe).

• Bektashi Tekke (Tetovo)

  The Harabati Baba Tekke in Tetovo is an outstanding example of a Bektashi complex, and a focal point for adherents of the Sufi sect which commands some following in Albania and elsewhere in the southern Balkans (photo © hidden europe).

• Bektashi Tekke (Tetovo)

  The Harabati Baba Tekke in Tetovo is an outstanding example of a Bektashi complex, and a focal point for adherents of the Sufi sect which commands some following in Albania and elsewhere in the southern Balkans (photo © hidden europe).

• Painted Mosque (Tetovo)

  Interior detail from the Alaja mosque (or painted mosque) in Tetovo. The arabesque ornament, which dates from the mid 19th-century when the mosque was rebuilt following a fire, ranks as one of one the finest pieces of Islamic design in the Balkans (photo © hidden europe).

• Painted Mosque (Tetovo)

  Interior detail from the Alaja mosque (or painted mosque) in Tetovo. The arabesque ornament, which dates from the mid 19th-century when the mosque was rebuilt following a fire, ranks as one of one the finest pieces of Islamic design in the Balkans (photo © hidden europe).

• Painted Mosque (Tetovo)

  The Alaja mosque (‘alaja’ means ‘painted’) would surely be a strong candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status, were it not in Macedonia. But the Skopje government plays down aspects of the country’s Islamic heritage (photo © hidden europe).

• Painted Mosque (Tetovo)

  The Alaja mosque (‘alaja’ means ‘painted’) would surely be a strong candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status, were it not in Macedonia. But the Skopje government plays down aspects of the country’s Islamic heritage (photo © hidden europe).

• Sveti Spas (Skopje)

  The sole remaining Orthodox monastery in the Macedonian capital (photo © hidden europe).

• Sveti Spas (Skopje)

  The sole remaining Orthodox monastery in the Macedonian capital (photo © hidden europe).

• Skopje Old Town

  The Carsija (or Old Bazaar) area of Skopje still reveals something of the Islamic heritage of the Macedonian capital (photo © hidden europe).

• Skopje Old Town

  The Carsija (or Old Bazaar) area of Skopje still reveals something of the Islamic heritage of the Macedonian capital (photo © hidden europe).