Mariovo
Encyclopedia
Mariovo is a region in the southern part of Macedonia
(area of 1390 square km, elevation 1050 m), situated between the mountains Selechka (highest peak - Visoka 1471 m) on the west, Nidze
(highest peak - Kajmakchalan 2520 m) and Kozhuf (highest peak - Zelenbeg 2171 m) on the south, Kozjak (highest peak - Baltova Chuka 1822 m) on the east and Dren (mountain) (highest peak - Studenica 1663 m) on the north. The river Crna flows across the whole area of Mariovo, creating the largest canyon in Macedonia which is around 100 km long.
The region is divided into 3 sub-regions, Bitolsko Mariovo (with its center Staravina
), Prilepsko Mariovo (with its center Vitoliste
) and Tikvesko Mariovo (consisted of the western parts of the former municipality Konopishte
with the villages of Rozden, Majdan, Rzhanovo and Klinovo).
Nowadays, administratively it is divided among three municipalities: Prilep
, Novaci
and Kavadarci
.
The river Crna also divides the region into two sub-regions, Small Mariovo (Malo Mariovo) on the left side of the river, and Old (Large) Mariovo (Staro Mariovo) on the right side of the river.
The specific position and natural condition of this geomorphological entity have contributed towards creation of a distinct local climate which differs from the other parts of the country. The mountains Dren
and Selechka shield Mariovo from the continental northern winds. On the south-east the basin of the river Crna enables Mediterranean influences from Aegean Sea
, while in the area of Skochivir Ravine the moderate continental clime makes its way from the Pelagonian plains. The influence of three climate zones can be felt in this area.
Lots of people lived there in the past, but due to migration, nowadays there are less than 1000 people left, living in the 28 settlements: Vitolishte, Beshishte, Veprchani, Vrpsko, Dunye, Zhivovo, Kalen, Kokre, Krushevica, Manastir, Polchishte, Peshtani, Chanishte, Brnik, Budimirci, Gradeshnica, Grunishta, Zovich, Iveni, Makovo, Orle, Rapesh, Staravina
, Rzhanovo, Rozhden, Galishte, Klinovo and Mayden.
The trip starts in Bitola. From there you need to go to the village Novaci, past the power plant REK Bitola
and then up the mountain to the village Makovo. From there the road takes you to the village Rapes. The asphalt road ends right after that village and from there it's a bumpy ride on a dirt road until you reach Staravina. You might need a permit to go there because the region is near the southern border of the country.
There is a mountain hut located in Staravina, near the church. Its owner is PD Medikus from Bitola
. You can stay there for free, but if you want to you can leave a donation.
because historical dates claim that he descended from the mountains and built Pela. The closest mountain to the north-west of Pela is exactly this one in Mariovo.
, a crystal of thallium
. The lorandite is thought to have the potential to unravel the so-called "neutrino puzzle". By serving as a geochemical detector of the neuron, the lorandite could validate or disprove the theory of the standard solar system. In simple terms—it would let us understand the work of the Sun. The Ottomans, who ruled the peninsula until the beginning of the 20th century, called it Majdan (the word for "mine" in Turkish). This was also the name given to the nearest village. They explored for gold. But they were not the first ones at the mine. According to some, the mine has existed for over 5,000 years. It has eight entrances, two of which lead through corridors that extend up to 6 kilometers and have cobblestone pathways, placed there by the Ottomans. The mine has been closed for decades. According to experts, many world scientists are very interested in exploring Alshar. The lorandite from the mine can register in a chemical and physical way the so-called neutrino flux coming from the Sun and it is the only known substance that has this power. If the neutrino could be explored, science could understand the processes that go on inside the Sun. Some say with awe that it could lead to an understanding of the past but also of the future of our galaxy. Despite all the mystery, the fact is undisputed that Alshar is the only known place on the planet that contains the lorandite, a mineral of potentially huge significance in physics. According to rough estimates, the mine could have reserves of up to 40 tons of lorandite. A few grams of lorandite for lab research is said to cost about 5-6 euros.
You can reach there from the village Konopiste.
, the icon of St. George depicting his life, the wood-carved chandelier (17th c.) and three wood carved double doors (17th c.) is all that has remained from the wealth of the religious object with great artistic value which once adorned the interior of the church.
The Chebren Monastery with the Church of St. Demetrios (Sv. Dimitrija), together with the small church of Holy Saviour (Sv. Spas) located nearby, are centres of exceptional spiritual and archeological value. The Monastery belongs to the village of Zovic and is situated on the eastern bank of river Crna, where it mingles with the picturesque landscape of meadows, trees and rocks.
The church of St. Demetrios is a three-naval basilica with marble columns. Its iconostasis dates from 15th century, but was renovated in the 19th century. Southeast from the monastery, on the hill which rises over the river is the small church of the Holy Saviour, probably built in the 14th century. It is a single-naval stone church with wooden roof structure covered with stone tiles (preserved only on the apse and eastern wall).The interior is completely fresco-painted and a great deal of the frescos can still be seen.
You can reach Gradesnica from Staravina, there's an asphalt road leading there.
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...
(area of 1390 square km, elevation 1050 m), situated between the mountains Selechka (highest peak - Visoka 1471 m) on the west, Nidze
Nidze
Nidže is a mountain in the southwest of the Republic of Macedonia. The mountain is characterised by almost untouched nature: rich pine forests, lomi, rivers and pastures over 2000 meters. The highest peak is Kajmakčalan at 2521 meters above sea level...
(highest peak - Kajmakchalan 2520 m) and Kozhuf (highest peak - Zelenbeg 2171 m) on the south, Kozjak (highest peak - Baltova Chuka 1822 m) on the east and Dren (mountain) (highest peak - Studenica 1663 m) on the north. The river Crna flows across the whole area of Mariovo, creating the largest canyon in Macedonia which is around 100 km long.
The region is divided into 3 sub-regions, Bitolsko Mariovo (with its center Staravina
Staravina
Staravina is a city in the Novaci Municipality of Macedonia. Its FIPS code was MK95.- References :...
), Prilepsko Mariovo (with its center Vitoliste
Vitolište
Vitoliste is a city in the Prilep Municipality of Macedonia. Its FIPS code was MKB5 ....
) and Tikvesko Mariovo (consisted of the western parts of the former municipality Konopishte
Konopište (Macedonia)
Konopište is a village in the Municipality of Kavadarci, situated in the center of the vinegary region of Tikveš. It is the home to Gorska Voda, a company that bottles water and soft drink products in the Republic of Macedonia. Konopište has many geomorphic stone dolls, but they were formed from...
with the villages of Rozden, Majdan, Rzhanovo and Klinovo).
Nowadays, administratively it is divided among three municipalities: Prilep
Prilep
Prilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.-Name:...
, Novaci
Novaci municipality
Novaci is a municipality in southern Republic of Macedonia. Novaci is also the name of the village where the municipal seat is found. Novaci Municipality is a part of the Pelagonia Statistical Region.-History:...
and Kavadarci
Kavadarci
Kavadarci is a town located in the Tikveš region of the Republic of Macedonia. Situated in the heart of Macedonia’s wine country, it is home to the largest winery in south-eastern Europe, named after the Tikveš plain. The town of Kavadarci is the seat of Kavadarci Municipality...
.
The river Crna also divides the region into two sub-regions, Small Mariovo (Malo Mariovo) on the left side of the river, and Old (Large) Mariovo (Staro Mariovo) on the right side of the river.
The specific position and natural condition of this geomorphological entity have contributed towards creation of a distinct local climate which differs from the other parts of the country. The mountains Dren
Dren
Dren is a toponym and given name.It is a unisex name in Albanian culture, particularly common for males in Kosovo. The origin of this name may be from the Albanian word dre for deer....
and Selechka shield Mariovo from the continental northern winds. On the south-east the basin of the river Crna enables Mediterranean influences from Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
, while in the area of Skochivir Ravine the moderate continental clime makes its way from the Pelagonian plains. The influence of three climate zones can be felt in this area.
Lots of people lived there in the past, but due to migration, nowadays there are less than 1000 people left, living in the 28 settlements: Vitolishte, Beshishte, Veprchani, Vrpsko, Dunye, Zhivovo, Kalen, Kokre, Krushevica, Manastir, Polchishte, Peshtani, Chanishte, Brnik, Budimirci, Gradeshnica, Grunishta, Zovich, Iveni, Makovo, Orle, Rapesh, Staravina
Staravina
Staravina is a city in the Novaci Municipality of Macedonia. Its FIPS code was MK95.- References :...
, Rzhanovo, Rozhden, Galishte, Klinovo and Mayden.
Staravina
The village Staravina was once the center of the municipality Staravina. It is located in the southern part of Mariovo, 50 km away from Bitola.The trip starts in Bitola. From there you need to go to the village Novaci, past the power plant REK Bitola
REK Bitola
Mining and Energy Combine Bitolais a large coal power plant about 12 km from the city of Bitola, Macedonia. It is the primary source of electrical power in Macedonia, providing for 70% of the country's needs. The plant, which was built from 1982 to 1988, generates around 4.34 million...
and then up the mountain to the village Makovo. From there the road takes you to the village Rapes. The asphalt road ends right after that village and from there it's a bumpy ride on a dirt road until you reach Staravina. You might need a permit to go there because the region is near the southern border of the country.
There is a mountain hut located in Staravina, near the church. Its owner is PD Medikus from 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...
. You can stay there for free, but if you want to you can leave a donation.
Peshta
The site of Peshta dates from the time of ancient Macedonian kings (4th century BC) and is located between villages of Staravina and Gradeshnica. Standing in the center of Staravina, one can notice the outlines of a fortress on the horizon. There also used to be a town in the vicinity, which the villagers consider to be the birthplace of King PhilipPhilip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
because historical dates claim that he descended from the mountains and built Pela. The closest mountain to the north-west of Pela is exactly this one in Mariovo.
Alshar
Alshar, an ancient mine located in the southern Balkans, in Macedonia, is said to contain minerals that are found nowhere else on the planet. The rarest of them all—the loranditeLorandite
Lorandite is a thallium arsenic sulfosalt with the chemical formula: TlAsS2. Though rare, it is the most common thallium-bearing mineral. Lorandite occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal associations and in gold and mercury ore deposits...
, a crystal of thallium
Thallium
Thallium is a chemical element with the symbol Tl and atomic number 81. This soft gray poor metal resembles tin but discolors when exposed to air. The two chemists William Crookes and Claude-Auguste Lamy discovered thallium independently in 1861 by the newly developed method of flame spectroscopy...
. The lorandite is thought to have the potential to unravel the so-called "neutrino puzzle". By serving as a geochemical detector of the neuron, the lorandite could validate or disprove the theory of the standard solar system. In simple terms—it would let us understand the work of the Sun. The Ottomans, who ruled the peninsula until the beginning of the 20th century, called it Majdan (the word for "mine" in Turkish). This was also the name given to the nearest village. They explored for gold. But they were not the first ones at the mine. According to some, the mine has existed for over 5,000 years. It has eight entrances, two of which lead through corridors that extend up to 6 kilometers and have cobblestone pathways, placed there by the Ottomans. The mine has been closed for decades. According to experts, many world scientists are very interested in exploring Alshar. The lorandite from the mine can register in a chemical and physical way the so-called neutrino flux coming from the Sun and it is the only known substance that has this power. If the neutrino could be explored, science could understand the processes that go on inside the Sun. Some say with awe that it could lead to an understanding of the past but also of the future of our galaxy. Despite all the mystery, the fact is undisputed that Alshar is the only known place on the planet that contains the lorandite, a mineral of potentially huge significance in physics. According to rough estimates, the mine could have reserves of up to 40 tons of lorandite. A few grams of lorandite for lab research is said to cost about 5-6 euros.
You can reach there from the village Konopiste.
Monastery St. George, Polog
This monastery is located in south-east Macedonia, near Kavadarci, on the border between Mariovo and Tikvesh. It can be reached only by boat across man-made Tikvesh Lake. One can start this unique experience from three places: by the dam near the village of Vozarci, from the village of Resava near Kamen Dol and from Kamenica near the village of Begnishte. It is now situated in an inaccessible area, but in the past the monastery rose high above the canyon of the river Crna, on the foothills of Visheshnica. Nowadays it is secluded by the lake and completely isolated. The church, as a lonely representative of its time, honorably watches over the invaluable medieval art from the time of Czar Dushan. According to the latest research, the building of the monastery dates before 1340 AD, and the frescoes were painted in 1343-1345. During its existence the monastery had been abandoned on several occasions, but its activity never ceased completely. In the 16th century it had an active monastic brotherhood and was a powerful spiritual center. The large gold-plated wooden cross was carved in this period (1584). At the beginning of 19th century the lodgings on the eastern and on the southern side were built, the bell tower and several other buildings of practical character. Only the monastery church of St. George has survived within the walls of the monastery until today. Only fragments of the 17th century iconostasisIconostasis
In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church...
, the icon of St. George depicting his life, the wood-carved chandelier (17th c.) and three wood carved double doors (17th c.) is all that has remained from the wealth of the religious object with great artistic value which once adorned the interior of the church.
The Chebren Monastery
To reach the monastery you first need to go to the village Zovik which can be reached from Staravina or just by following the dirt road from Rapes. Then from Zovik just head towards the river Crna and you will reach the monastery.The Chebren Monastery with the Church of St. Demetrios (Sv. Dimitrija), together with the small church of Holy Saviour (Sv. Spas) located nearby, are centres of exceptional spiritual and archeological value. The Monastery belongs to the village of Zovic and is situated on the eastern bank of river Crna, where it mingles with the picturesque landscape of meadows, trees and rocks.
The church of St. Demetrios is a three-naval basilica with marble columns. Its iconostasis dates from 15th century, but was renovated in the 19th century. Southeast from the monastery, on the hill which rises over the river is the small church of the Holy Saviour, probably built in the 14th century. It is a single-naval stone church with wooden roof structure covered with stone tiles (preserved only on the apse and eastern wall).The interior is completely fresco-painted and a great deal of the frescos can still be seen.
Gradeshnica and church of St. Demetrios (Sv. Dimitrija)
The villagе of Gradesnica is located down the slope toward the Gradeska River and its canyon, whose natural beauty enriches the view of the village when approached from that side. The church of St. Demetrios, a cultural monument from the 15th century is located in this village, situated by the road at the very entrance. This church is somethimes mentioned as the church of St. Nicholas, but also known as St. Demetrios among the local population. It is a small, single nave church covered with a semi-cylindrical vault. The massive stone iconostasis separates the space towards the altar apse. The preserved frescos on the central part (naos) and on the iconostasis differ from those in the altar apse. According to their style, they belong to the 14th century, while those in the altar apse indicate the style of the 15th century.You can reach Gradesnica from Staravina, there's an asphalt road leading there.