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Ohrid
Ohrid is a town-museum and a cultural treasury of Macedonia.It has often been referred to as the "Balcan Jerusalem". Situated on the shore of the Lake Ohrid, it abounds in natural and spiritual beauties. The antique name of the town is Lychnid. It became known for the work of Ss.Clement and Naum, the disciples of the first Macedonian and Slavic educators and enlighteners, Ss.Cyril and Methodius. Ss. Clement and Naum were founders of the famous "Ohrid Lyterary School" in the 9th century.It was a highly developed ecclesiastic, educational and literary centre, among the first in Europe.
The town is dominated by the monumental
Fortress of Tsar Samuel, situated on the 
top of a hill (see the picture on the left). It was
one of the official seats of the first Macedonian state after
Alexander the Great.This fortress has 18 towers and 4 gates.The
walls are about 15m high.To-day's look is from the time of Tsar
Samuel (end of 10th century).During his rule, in Ohrid
are builded 365 churches (!), for each day of the year.In that
period, Macedonian church was a Patriarchate.
In the town centre there is a real masterpieces of old town architecture from the 19th century. The old Bazaar is full of shops and stores as well as craft workshops selling a wide range of merchandise including the souveniers typical of this area : the famous Ohrid Pearl, silver filigree work and wood-carving.
Today,Ohrid has about 15 churches.All these churches have valuable frescoes, rare examples of medieval art and are the object of study for many internationally recognised historians of the medieval period.
Of the numerous cultural and historical monuments in Ohrid, a few deserve special attention : the Church of St. Sophia (11th century), which is the most eminent medieval monument in Macedonia, the Church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos (13th century), situated in the same complex as the famous Gallery of Icons, the Church of St. John (Yovan) of Kaneo (13th century), with a wonderful view of the lake. The oldest church is St.Clement's Monastery (9th century), builded by this Great Saint.
In the vicinity of Ohrid is town of Struga. South from Ohrid, on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid,are placed picturesques villages: St.Stephan, Peshtani, Trpeitsa and the famous Monastery of St. Naum.All this coast is full of hotels, camps and turist sites.
In the centre of Ohrid there is a few modern hotels.Comfortable accomodation is also provided in private houses where the hospitable hosts provide everything to make their guests feel at home.
The conclusion is- you must see Ohrid!
The old inscription and the old town architecture of Ohrid.
The Church of St.John(Yovan) of Kaneo (on the left) and the Church of St. Sophia( on the right)
The Church of Holy Mother of
God and the icon of St. Clement
