Struga

Understand

Struga has always been in the shadow of Ohrid, as Ohrid has more monuments and better preserved houses. But Struga can still be a fun daytrip from Ohrid if one combines it with a trip to the villages on the west coast of lake Ohrid where main sight, aside from the nice quiet beaches, are the cave churches. Unlike Ohrid which is in hills, Struga is flat, spread around Drim river. It is a great place to relax with a cup of coffee by the river. While the city of Struga has a majority ethnic Macedonian population, Struga Municipality as a whole with its 50 surrounding villages is home to an Albanian majority.

History In ancient time the city was known as Enchalon, which means eel (fishing eels in Drim river used to be very popular in Struga). The Via Egnatia road that connected Rome with Thesaloniki and Constantinople passed through Struga. The name Struga was used for the first time in a document in the 11th c, but it originates from the 7th c. The Byzantine travel writer Ana Komnina visited Struga in the 11th century and named it “City of 100 bridges”. While the nearby Ohrid was always cultural and religious centre, Struga played the role of trading centre of the region. It still does and a visit on market day can be fun. In the 19th century Struga played important part in the national revival as it was home town of Konstantin and Dimitar Miladinovi, brothers who collected and published a collection of folk songs (named "Folk songs from Macedonia") in 1862. Konstantin Miladinov wrote Sorrow for the south (also translated as 'Longing for the South') during his studies in Saint Petersburg. Today, in his honour, the biggest poetry festivals in the world is held in Struga every year.

Curiosities The river Drim, which enters Ohrid lake in the St. Naum monastery, comes out in Struga after going through the whole lake. Before the Drim had been blocked by several dams downstream of Struga, Lake Ohrid was home to a large population of eels. The annual run of the eels, wh

Getting there

By bus There are direct buses from Skopje and other cities in Macedonia to Struga. Also there are buses to Tirana, Albania.

1 Long distance bus station, ☏ +389 46-782770. 2 Minibus stop. Gathering point for minibuses going to Ohrid (E 15km). Buses leave once every 20-40 minutes and cost 100 denars. There are also shared taxis to Ohrid, which also cost 100 denars per person. 3 Bus companies' offices, Partizanska 15 bb, ☏ +389 46 787 467. A few kiosks selling tickets to various destinations. One of them, Euro linia, operates buses to/from Vlore in Albania (passing Elbasan, Tirana €13, Durres), and departs from Struga at 05:00 and 06:00. Coaches to Skopje (via Tetovo) leave at 05:00, 08:00, 10:00, 17:00. Bus connection with Germany.

Getting around

Struga is small and easiest to get around is by walking. To visit the cave churches on the west coast of Ohrid lake take a taxi or check out the bus schedule. A 15 minutes walk along the lake will take you to Kalishta village and cave monastery.

See

1 Church of Saint George (Црква „Св. Ѓорѓи“). The oldest and most significant of the churches in the city of Struga. Dating from the 13th century, the church is most famous for the Saint George icon painted in 1267 and considered among the most important in Macedonia. It is also considered to be miraculous as it was found in the lake. The church has been renovated and expanded over the years, with the most significant occurring in 1835. A group of surviving traditional homes can be found around the church. (updated Dec 2019) 2 Nikola Nezlobinski Nature Museum (Никола Незлобински Музејот на природата), Niko Nestor Street, ☏ +389 46 786 664, [email protected]. The museum was founded in 1928 by Nikola Nezlobinski, a Russian doctor who lived and worked in Struga after the October Revolution. Nezlobinski arrived in 1924 with the task of eradicating malaria. He implemented major health and hygiene improvements to the area and is still honored for his work. The museum, which is a national institution, contains departments on biology, ethnology, archaeology, history, and fine arts. Among the archaeological exhibitions are the mosaic floors found at early Christian sites in the Struga-area villages of Oktisi and Radolišta. (updated Dec 2019) 3 Bridge of Poetry (Мост на поезијата). This bridge crosses the Black Drim River just before it lets out into Lake Ohrid. It is best-known for hosting the closing event of the Struga Poetry Evenings, where the poets read their works in their own languages from the bridge, in late August. (updated Dec 2019) 4 Halveti Tekje (Халвети Теќе). This is one of the most representative examples of Ottoman architecture in Struga. The tekje, a Sufi Islam monastery, was established by Hasan Baba in the beginning of the 18th century and consists of five rooms in a T-shape. It features a minaret, a balcony, and a dome. (updated Dec 2019) 5 Old Bazaar (City Market, Градски пазар). Struga's small bazaar is a straight street, named after Josip Broz Tit

Do

Struga Poetry Evenings (Струшки вечери на поезијата (СВП)). The international poetry festival held in the summer (usually, in the second half of August) every year since 1966. There are two rewards given, one for lifetime achievement, and one for a young poet (if you have just published your first book of poetry, send it to UNESCO as they decide who gets this award). There has been a wide number of notable recipients over the years. (updated Apr 2017) 1 Guided hikes by Mountaineering Club Struga (KAB Struga). They often organize hiking tours in the region. They usually charge a small amount for transportation and €2-4 for participation. (updated Jul 2019) Vodici (Водици). The Christian holiday of Epiphany (Vodici in Macedonian) is celebrated among Orthodox Christians by leaping into a lake, river, or other body of water to retrieve a cross thrown by a priest - in the middle of January. Struga has a particularly popular throwing of the cross, which is thrown into Lake Ohrid. (updated Dec 2019) Football: FC Struga play soccer in the First Division, the top tier. Their tiny Gradska Plaža Stadium (capacity 800) is shared with FK Karaorman in the Second Division; it's on the coast 500 m east of the river outlet.

Eat

A dish native to Struga and Ohrid is gjomzele. It is made of flour, water, salt, and some oil.

Klimetica, ☏ +389 755-178. T'ga Za Jug, ☏ +389 46 788741. Dardania, ☏ +389 46 785088. Sv.Nikola, Goce Delcev 88, ☏ +389 70 362720. Macedonian national restaurant where you can find the most amazing national food. The location of this restaurant is very good, next to the river Drim, where you can enjoy food and relaxing music. 1 Restaurant Aquarius, Vlado Malevski, 6330 Ustrugha, ☏ +389 46787290, [email protected]. Daily 10:00-00:00. (updated Jul 2019) 2 Versus Beach Bar, ☏ +389 46 788 200, [email protected]. Daily 09:00-01:00. (updated Jul 2019) 3 Fish restaurant Aleksandrija, s. Radozhda, ☏ +389 46 787 017. (updated Jan 2020) 4 Restaurant Galija, s