SW Macedonia Attractions

Republic of Macedonia is consisted of eight planning regions, and one of them is the Southwest region which is spread on 3.300 km2 with around 220.000 inhabitants.

The Region includes nine municipalities: Ohrid, Struga, Debar, Kichevo, Makedonski Brod (urban municipalities) and Vevchani, Debrca, Plasnica and Centar Zupa (rural municipalities). Although, the biggest concentration of the population is in the urban centers – Ohrid, Struga, Kichevo and Debar, however there is significant developing potential in the rural areas of the Region. Here, dominate juvenile chain mountains with very high peaks, untouched nature and exquisite landscapes, numerous protected areas, and among them the most important are the National Park Galichica and the Natural Reserve Jasen which are abundant with an extraordinary flora and fauna.

Besides the famous Ohrid and Struga, attractive with the summer tourism,that is connected with one of the most ancient water basins in Europe – the Lake Ohrid, there are also exceptional opportunities for recreation in the spa tourism in Debar and other forms of active tourism (paragliding, mountaineering, hunting, fishing, kayak, yachting, riding, etc.) and in particular the speleology in Makedonski Brod which has over twenty registered exceptional caves.

The traditional gastronomic offer is abundant with organic products which are planted in unpolluted areas, and most of them are authentic sorts with an unforgettable flavors.

The Region is one of the rarest not only in Macedonia but also in the wider region with the abundance of cultural monuments. Over 350 registered and protected by law cultural goods are sent out on the entire territory, through which could be followed the European tendenciesand trends, from the antique period up till the “early-modern” European movements, in the architecture, art, fresco-painting, icon-painting…

The most impressive are the shrines related with the Christianity since its most ancient days, through the remarkable medieval Orthodox temples, and the treasure of frescoes and icons which are rare even in the world frames. It is not by chance that Ohrid known as “Slav Jerusalem” is under protection of UNESCO since 1979/80.

This application is designed for all well-intended visitors, who want to experience memorable moments during their stay in Macedonia and in particular in the Southwest Planning Region. The idea for the application is elaborated by the team of the Center for Development of the Southwest Planning Region, i.e. the manager Mirjana Lozanoska and the project-coordinator Stojan Saveski, whereas the software is made by GDi from Skopje, in close cooperation with all municipalities in the frame of the Region. The project is financially supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ LEIWW+ Programme) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).