Demir Hisar or in Slavic translation known as Železnec (in Macedonian

Macedonian language

Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...

  Железнец), is an area spreading on the South West part of Macedonia

Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

 to the North West of the Pelagonian plain, around the river flow of the Black River (Crna Reka) with her inflows. The greater parts of the surrounding area of Demir Hisar are smaller hills and mountains, and a small part which is spread around the mentioned river is low lands. A signature of this area are the mountains Bigla, Ilinska I Plakenska, on which is the highest peak reaching (2000 m) which separates the region of Demir Hisar with the lake regions of Prespa

Prespa

Prespa is a region in Republic of Macedonia. It shares the same name with the two Prespa lakes which are situated in the middle of the region. The largest town is Resen with 9,000 inhabitants....

 and Ohrid

Ohrid

Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...

.

Name

The name of Demir Hisar derives from the treasure of iron which the surrounding mountains in this region have, which is why it is called Iron Fortress. The name has been changed according to the ruler and his ruling period. When it was ruled by the Greeks

Greeks

The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....

, it was known as Sidero Kastron which in translation means ‘Iron Fortress’, and when it was overtaken by the Ottoman army, the name was changed in to ”Demir Hisar” which in their language also means ‘’ Iron Fortress’’. “Demir Hisar

Demir Hisar (town)

Demir Hisar is a town in Republic of Macedonia. It is the seat of Demir Hisar Municipality. This small settlement has an absolute Macedonian ethnic majority...

” was maintained as the town's name when in Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....

, and remained so in Macedonia

Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

.

Population

The community of Demir Hisar comprises 10,610 inhabitants, 0.53% of the population of Macedonia

Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

, and 21% of them live in the town Demir Hisar

Demir Hisar (town)

Demir Hisar is a town in Republic of Macedonia. It is the seat of Demir Hisar Municipality. This small settlement has an absolute Macedonian ethnic majority...

. The town is spread over 473 km² and it is accounted that nearly 23.6 people live per square kilometre. With the new structure of the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, the municipality of Sopotnica was integrated into Demir Hisar municipality

Demir Hisar municipality

Demir Hisar is a municipality in southwestern Republic of Macedonia. Demir Hisar, which means "iron fortress" in Turkish, is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found...

. Today the municipality of Demir Hisar is spread over a territory of 473 km². As part of this municipality, 41 inhabited places are included, from which the central part is the town Demir hisar with a population of 2,447.

History

The community started developing somewhere in 1945 soon after the end of the Second World War. First in Demir Hisar was formed a political – social administrative community – Local public administration, and it was placed in the village of Lopatica

Lopăţica

Lopăţica is a commune in Cahul district, Moldova. It is composed of a single village, Lopăţica....

 but then, with the change of the territorial and urban laws in the republic, it was set in Murgaševo.

Demir Hisar as a community is an independent society which is in constant progress, and now is a well-developed and well-known place in the Republic, with their own systems for water, electricity, garbage disposal systems and extensive roads that lead to neighbouring communities.

Culture

Folk ensemble "Ilinden" works in the Cultural Educational Centre. It has a small, middle, and big group, own orchestra with a total of 150 members. The ensemble was formed in 1993. With it work three choreographers as external collaborators of the CEC. At repertoire of folk ensemble there are 10 choreographies which are presented afore citizens of Demir Hisar, in neighborhood municipalities and wide in Macedonia and abroad (Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria and Austria). In these places ensemble "Ilinden" has received widespread recognition and awards.

Mention must be made of participation in festivals like "Ilindenski Denovi" Bitola

Bitola

Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...

, "Injevo" -Radovis

Radoviš

Radoviš is a city positioned in the southeastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. It is the second largest city in the southeastern region. The city is the seat of Radoviš Municipality, which is spread on the bottom of Plačkovica Mountain and the northern part of the Radoviš-Strumica valley. The...

, "10 days Krusevo Republic" - Krusevo

Kruševo

Kruševo also spelled Krushevo, is a town in the Republic of Macedonia. It is the highest town in Macedonia, situated at an altitude of over 4,000 feet above sea level. The town of Kruševo is the seat of Kruševo Municipality.-History:...

, days of Cultural Educational Centres of Macedonia, etc.

Guests of ensemble "Ilinden" have been many ensembles from many countries like, "Ograzdence" - Petric

Petric

Petric may refer to:*Veliki Petrič, fortress in Serbia*Mali Petrič, fortress in Serbia*Petrich, a town in Bulgaria- People :*Gordan Petrić, a Yugoslav football player*Ivo Petrić, a Slovenian composer*Luka Petric, a Slovenian badminton player...

 (Bulgaria), "Nisan" - Sandanski

Sandanski

-Municipality:Sandanski is the seat of Sandanski municipality , which includes the following 54 places:-Honour:Sandanski Point on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the town of Sandanski....

 (Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...

), "Kapance" - Razgrad (Bulgaria), "Tanasko Rajic" - Cacak (Serbia and Montenegro), "Stubline" -Obrenovac

Obrenovac

Obrenovac is a town and municipality located in Serbia at 44°40′ North, 20°13′ East. Its name stems from last name "Obrenović" which in turn stems from name "Obren" in Serbian language. In 2003 the municipality has total population of 75,949...

 (Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...

) and "Floricanka" - Razin (Moldavia

Moldavia

Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...

).
Cultural Educational Centre "Ilinden" - Demir Hisar, with Folk Ensemble up to now have great cooperation with other Cultural Educational Centers in Macedonia, and that cooperation brings many collective concerts (with Krusevo, Makedonski Brod, Demir Kapija) and concerts with ensembles "Ilinden" - Bitola, and "Vlado Tasevski" - Skopje.

Ilinden plans many new visits for the future in Macedonia as well as abroad.