Town in Northeastern, North Macedonia
Photo: Dars at Macedonian Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kratovo (Macedonian: Кратово) is a town of just under 7,000 residents in northeastern North Macedonia. It is on the western slopes of Mount Osogovo inside the crater of an extinguished volcano. In addition to its scenic location, it is best known for its medieval bridges and towers.
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Founded in 1993 within a historic Ottoman-era home.
Црква „Св. Јован Крстител“
The current church exists on the place of an older one that was burned down in 1689 during an uprising. Much of the valuable religious items were saved prior to the church's destruction. The church was rebuilt in 1836 under the design of Andrej Damjanov and its iconostasis was made of walnut and golden leaf. The church is made of stone, has a portico and a pitched roof with a cupola.
Црква „Св. Ѓорѓи Кратовски“
Built in 1925, this church is dedicated to Saint George of Kratovo who was burned at the stake in 1514 for not accepting Islam as his religion. It has one cupola over the entrance.
Tourist office
A private gallery for prehistoric art from the Kratovo area.
Аргулички мост
Crossing a tributary of the Kratovo River in southern Kratovo, this stone bridge consists of a single rounded arch.
Чаршиски мост
Located between the Grofčanski and Jokširski bridges, the Čaršiski Bridge has a rounded arch unlike the two neighbouring it which have pointed arches.
Горноамамски мост
The easternmost of the bridges.
Грофчански мост
The westernmost of the medieval bridges, the Grofčanski Bridge has two arches, under one of which the river runs. The bridge was built in the early 1700s.
Јокширски мост
The stone single-arch bridge connects the tannery neighborhood to the Sultan Murat neighborhood.
Радин мост
This bridge is newer than the other five, having been built in 1833 by Skopje nobleman Havzi Pasha. It crosses one of the Kratovo River's tributaries in the southern end of town.
Саат кула
One of the six remaining towers of the Middle Ages and Ottoman period. Built in 1372, it is divided into three floors. The uppermost was used as a home for the local Turkish beys (lords). The tower, now held by the Kratovo City Museum, is open to the public and contains exhibits. The terrace at the top is also open to visitors, providing views of the town and its surroundings.
Крстева кула
This square tower is in very good condition. On the entrance side, it has four windows and two balconies.
Симиќева кула
This tower is located north of the Kratovo River and stands 13 m (42 ft) high and 6 m (20 ft) wide.
Срезка кула
Located just west of Krste's Tower, the Srez Tower is in rougher shape than its neighbour and could use a new roof.
Златкова кула
Built in 1365, the tower is named after its last owner Georgi Zlatkov. The rectangular tower with three floors stands 6 m (20 ft) tall.
Камени Кукли
This natural wonder, consisting of 15 larger (10 m / 32 ft tall) and 120 smaller stone pillars, was probably created by erosion and other climate influence. However, the legend connected to this phenomenon says that the figures are in fact wedding guests who were turned into rocks.
Цоцев камен
Cocev Kamen is within Kratovo Municipality but, because of some mountains, is a shorter drive from Kumanovo than from Kratovo. The hilltop cave site of volcanic origin may have been inhabited as early as Paleolithic times. Some of the walls are painted, similar to such caves found in Bulgaria and Italy. It may have also been used as an astronomical observatory.
Големо Градиште
This archaeological complex contains remains of sites dating from Late Antiquity and the medieval era. It is thought to be the location of the late Roman fortified town Tranupara. Situated on a hill near the Kriva River, the more prominent ruins include an early Christian church from around the 4th century and a medieval church from the 14th century. The former mostly consists of short walls and foundations; a church dedicated to St John the Baptist was built next to it in 1955. The latter is largely still standing and has had a new roof installed atop it. Traces of the original frescoes as well as some decorative ceramics are found inside. While the original dedication is unknown, it has been named after St George.
Црква „Св. Воведение на Пресвета Богородица“
In the centre of the historic village of Šlegovo is this 1861-built church. Several old icons are within the church, including a couple that predate its construction. Made entirely of stone, the church features a long porch with several arches and a very nice bell tower.
Црква „Св. Никола“
This site has two churches, an older one dating from the 16th century and a newer one built in 1939. The older church is simple on the outside with a pitched roof but contains significant frescoes on the inside. The newer St Nicholas is a prominent structure with a large dome, though it is in surprisingly rough shape.
Градски стадион Кратово
With a capacity of 1,800, it is home to FK Sileks of the First Football League.
A stretch of the riverside walkways in central Kratovo has been renovated, creating a lovely promenade from Hotel Kratis to the Jokširski Bridge. It provides a different vantage point to see the town's old homes and bridges, as well as the greenery along the river.
Градски Парк
Kratovo's main park, on the south side of St George of Kratovo Street.
Two hours walking Tour around old Kratovo.
This restaurant, which means "the guesthouse at Spiro's", sometimes has live music. Located in the City Park.
Traditional cuisine.
(Not the same place as Persydo Cafe)
The only hotel in Kratovo. It is located at the confluence of two tributaries into the Kratovo River. It has a restaurant and bar.
Shancheva House
It has 3 rooms and 7 beds and 2 toilets.
By taxi
A taxi from Kumanovo should cost no more than 1,500 denars, while a ride from Skopje shouldn't cost much more than €30. Make sure to agree on the price before getting into the cab.
Everything in the town of Kratovo is walkable and it happens to be the best way to see the town. Be prepared for some uphill and downhill walking on Kratovo's interesting terrain.
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