ger+Struga

The main characteristics of the tourism in the Municipality of Struga are: relatively favorable geographic positioning and relatively developed road infrastructure, mild continental climate with high level of sun insolation during the whole year, extraordinary fund of endemic species of flora and fauna, protected and preserved natural habitat, rich cultural and historic heritage with a considerable number of monuments and archeological sites, mountain ranges favorable for winter tourism, traditional welcome and folklore, healthy and traditional food consuming, unique cultural manifestations, Struga is situated in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia, on the shorelines of the Lake Ohrid and alongside the banks of the River Black Drim that divides the city into two.

The Lake of Ohrid lies at an altitude of 695 meters above sea level and occupies an area of 348,2 km², from which 230 km² are on the side of the Republic of Macedonia and the rest of 118,2 km² belong to the Republic of Albania. The cost line of the lake is 87,5 km long.  The average depth of the lake is 164 meters and the maximum depth of the lake is 289 meters, with a high transparency that reaches up to 24 meters. The Lake is characterized with a very unique ecosystem consisted of a rich world of flora and fauna that is very rare.  The biodiversity of the lake and the trails of very old settlements and prehistoric civilizations that have existed here made possible for Lake Ohrid to be listed and constantly protected by the UNESCO as a cultural heritage of planetary proportions.

The River Black Drim is the only exit of the lake’s water. As it flows in the north, the river creates the two artificial lakes: Lake Globochitza and Lake Shpile. The eels found in the Lake Ohrid, through the river, pass seas and oceans on their “honeymoon” to arrive to the Sargasso Sea, where they meet their partners and breed.

As a result of the natural conditions and the strategic geo-politic position between West and East, Struga and its surroundings have been continuously populated and featured a cradle of ancient civilization. Archeological findings bear witness that near the mouth of the river Black Drim was established the ancient city of Enchalon.

The “Via Egnatia” penetrated in the region of Struga, more precisely, passed through the village of Radozhda, Struga.  Inside the church of St. George in Struga was found a millennium stone “Egnatia” on which is written the name of the Roman emperor Karakalus (211-217 B.C.) and the distance of 12 km dividing Struga from Ohrid.

The most known temples of the Christian religion are: the church of St. George of the city of Struga, the church complex near Kalishta, from the XV century, the church of St. Spas inside a cave in the village of Vishni, from the XV century, the church of St. Archangel Michael in Radozhda, from the XI century.

The most representative temples of the Islamic religion in Struga are the mosques and a teke: the Mosque of Suleiman Arap built in 1583, near the river Black Drim, the Mosque of Mustafa Celebi near the city centre, built in the late XV century, the Teke of Helveti, built by Baba Hasan in the XVIII century and the Hamam of Mustafa as a representative of the rarest Turkish monuments built in the years when the Ottomans came to Struga. 

The Natural Scientific Museum “Dr. Nikolla Nezllobinski” in Struga is one of the oldest institutions in Macedonia and represents a complex institution consisted of several departments as: the Biological Department, Preparatory Lab, Department of Archeology and Figurative Art and the Department of History and Ethnology.  In the Museum there is an exhibition of 9,381 specimens of flora and fauna founded in the shores of the Lake Ohrid, about 2,576 items that originate from pre-history, the ancientness, medieval era and items from the contemporary period.

The “Struga Poetry Evenings” as an international event began in 1966.  As a result, the international poetry award “The Golden Wreath” was established, and is awarded to the best poet.  For the years passed away, Struga has welcomed and hosted over 4,000 poets, essayists, and well-known critics from 95 different countries all over the world.

“The Review of Folk Costumes” is one of the most important cultural and touristic manifestations that traditionally takes place in Struga in the beginning of August, since 1971. This cultural event aims at presenting the cultural wealth of folk costumes and embroidery from the tradition coming from the tradition of all ethnic communities living in the Struga region.  The parade of the participants in the streets of Struga and along the river Black Drim is a special moment and an extraordinary happening for the visitors.

The citizens of Struga can be very proud of the many and old crafts.  According to this, we can point out the manufacturers of silver jewelry, hand-made filigree, old-style loom weaving, decorative wood-carving, pottery and many other handicraft shops that are located mainly in the old city bazaar.

The traditional cuisine cherished for centuries in Struga invites you to taste the deliciously prepared eel and trout a lá Struga, fli or dzomleze (national pie) under hot iron pan, pie and beans cooked in earthen pan, baklava and other sweeties.

The accommodation capacities in the Municipality of Struga are: 25 hotels with 4500 rooms and approximately 6000 beds, 10 motels with a capacity of 100 rooms with 250 beds and 200 private guest houses and apartments with 2000 rooms or 4000 beds. Thus, in Struga can be accommodated almost 10.000 tourists a day.  In the Municipality of Struga there are 60 restaurants with a traditional and modern cuisine, 50 fast-food and 60 cafés for everybody’s preferences as well as 20 travel agencies that organize the trips for the tourists.