Mavrovo Macedonia. Mavrovo National Park: from skiing to ethnography and gastronomy. Ski resort Mavrovo

In the northern part Balkan Peninsula a small state is located. Living peacefully with its neighbors, the country at one time avoided political strife and upheaval. However, such a quiet and modest “mouse” turned out to be also in terms of popular tourist routes. But in vain, by the way! Located within two large mountain systems, occupy two thirds of its territory. Therefore, the views here are simply stunning, and no worse than in the Alps.

Among those who finally made it to Macedonia, despite the hype, Mavrovo is extremely popular. This is a special place that stuns with its beauty.

Sights of Mavrovo

Mavrovo is a corner of wonderful and pristine nature. It is located just 70 km from the capital, the city. Of its riches, it is worth mentioning almost 80 thousand hectares of forest (), in the center of which lies. And, of course, the mountains! In addition, Mavrovo is a whole reserve for unique species of plants and animals. Bears, lynxes, wild boars, and deer still live here. At the same time, the latter may well come to hiking trail- They have no fear of people. And on the slopes of the mountains, about 140 species of birds build nests, among which there are even rare endangered species.

By the way, the lake is actually artificial. It was created as a reservoir at an electric dam. However, the lake blends so harmoniously into the surrounding nature that now even the very idea that it is the fruit of human labor may seem wild and inappropriate. It is also home to trout, so it’s fun to summer time Here you can go fishing or hunting in forest areas.

In addition to natural beauties, curious tourists should visit the monastery of John Bigorski. This landmark rises on Mount Bistra. The iconostasis in this monastery is extraordinary in its kind - it is decorated with deep carvings and is of cultural and historical value.

Mavrovo as a ski resort

If you are a lover of skiing or snowboarding, and at the same time crave European service, but lack the finances, this is the place for you. About 18 excellent trails for skiing, 3 of which are for beginners. About 6 tracks are reserved for professionals who can confidently overcome steep descents and exciting turns. Chairlifts and rope tows, equipped with artificial lighting for evening skiing, with a total capacity of 11,100 people per hour. Moreover, all trails are serviced by snow cannons. You can rent everything without much effort necessary equipment, hire a Russian-speaking instructor, and there is a special school for children. Ice skating and sledding are also popular entertainment options.

The quality and service of the Mavrovo ski resort is already evidenced by the fact that many different international winter sports competitions are held here. Various boarding houses and hotels are designed in a traditional style, which adds color to the local landscapes. They are mainly located right on the mountainside, in close proximity to the ski lifts.

Hotels and restaurants Mavrovo

If you are planning your weekend trip to Mavrovo, then choosing a place to stay will not be a problem. The resort is quite wide choose hotels, and even the most demanding tourist will find a place to his liking here. For example, at the very foot of Mount Bistra, on the territory of the Mavrovo National Park, the Sport Hotel Bistra Mavrovo is located. It features a fitness center, spa, indoor pool and sauna. The ski resort is just 100 meters away. The hotel has a restaurant serving international cuisine. The Ana Marija apartment complex is quite popular; its rooms offer truly wonderful views of the mountains. It is located 5 minutes walk from the lake. This place is more suitable for those who are looking for peace and harmony with nature.

There are not many restaurants in Mavrovo. They are mainly located at hotels. One of these is Restoran Golden Place. The dishes mostly belong to international cuisine, but there is something to surprise tourists who want to try national food. Another fairly famous restaurant in Mavrovo is Mal Odmor. Prices are quite reasonable with very satisfactory service.

It is gaining momentum more and more actively. This country has a lot of interesting things to offer tourists: monuments from antiquity and the Middle Ages, an insane number of temples and monasteries. Unique nature allows us to think that Macedonia will soon be included in the top list of countries where it is worth coming to study active species sports: hiking and fishing, rafting and speleological exploration. And also - alpine skiing, since a third of the territory of Macedonia is occupied by mountains.

The ski resorts of Macedonia can currently be counted on the fingers of one hand. These are Mavrovo, Krushevo, Popova Shapka. But now resorts are being actively built and equipped in Nidzha and Galicica, Jakupica and Kranj, Banjiste and Pelagonia.

Mavrovo

Ski resort Mavorovo, Macedonia. Photo - Markoskavesna

In order not to get confused, tourists need to remember that the toponym “Mavrovo” combines three concepts at once: a village, a national park and a ski resort. The park occupies a vast area where beech forests beautifully border Lake Mavrovo with crystal water. High hills juxtapose with mountain peaks. And the Radika River gorge is considered one of the pearls of Macedonia.

The resort is located in the northern part of the park. The season opens in November and lasts almost until the beginning of April. All routes are located at an altitude of 1255-1900 m above sea level.

There are 18 trails in total. Three of them are marked with a yellow marker and are intended for beginners. Five green trails for those who are new to alpine skiing. Six blue trails are already for advanced users. And “for starters” there are four black tracks, which are replete with steep descents and breathtaking turns. This is already the territory of professionals.

The quality and amenities of the entire complex can be judged by the fact that major international slalom and snowboard competitions are held annually in Mavrovo. All tracks are equipped with snow cannons, so there is always enough snow. 14 lifts will take everyone to the beginning of the descent. The resort has several hotels, a restaurant, a disco, a casino and a bar in the evenings. One of the most popular activities is night skiing.

Krushevo


Krusevo, Macedonia. Photo - Markoskavesna

Krusevo is a small Macedonian town, lost high in the mountains in the southwest of the country. The city itself is famous for its memorial in honor of the rebels who, at the beginning of the last century, managed to create people's republic(although it only lasted 10 days). Another attraction is the museum of the singer Toshe Proeski, a young genius who passed away early.

The resort infrastructure is just developing. Today, Krusevo can offer three slopes with gentle slopes, equipped with lifts. The trails are intended mainly for beginners and non-professionals. There is its own training school and a ski rental center.

Hotels are located both in close proximity to the ski lifts and in the city itself. So far hotels have only 2-3 stars, but many new ones are being built hotel complexes higher level.

What you will like about Krusevo: the absence of crowds of tourists, no queues near the ski lifts and no crowding on the slopes. One gets the feeling that this paradise only you know! Add more peace, quiet, a tranquil panorama of the mountains and magnificent nature.

Disadvantages: Krusevo does not yet have that high level of service that you quickly get used to at Alpine ski resorts. But if you came solely for the sake of ski racing, fresh air and outdoor recreation, you will be left with a lot of impressions.

Popova Hat


Popova Shapka, Macedonia. Photo - Markoskavesna

Popova Shapka is the most popular Macedonian ski resort, located just 53 km from the capital of the country, Skopje. The mountain itself is unique; tourists are attracted not only by the steep slopes, but also by miniature glacial lakes.

Six lifts and funiculars will take you to the top. Several routes start from here. There are special, gentle ones designed for beginners. A little to the side - steeper - with unexpected turns and other bells and whistles. Those who are already confident on skis ski here. There are trails designed for snowboarders.

For professionals, Popova Shapka has a special feature - off-piste skiing. All-terrain vehicles will take you to any place where there is untouched snow and steep mountains. A powerful adrenaline rush is guaranteed!

Compared to the ski resorts of Switzerland, Canada, Italy and even the neighboring country, Macedonian resorts have more affordable prices. The trails here are great. And the level of service, infrastructure and variety of entertainment are a real deal. However, if you are serious about relaxing, then such little things will not ruin your vacation. And it charms with its originality and never ceases to amaze with its hospitality.

Most often, tourists and residents of Macedonia come to this area to ski. Among the attractions, the first to highlight is Mavrovskoye Lake, which is distinguished by its incredible cleanliness and unique landscapes. The lake is located in the mountains at a decent altitude above sea level, so getting there will require some effort.

The lake is quite young; it was formed in 1959 as a result of the construction of a dam. The Radika River flows into this natural reservoir. There are four small villages on the shores of the lake. In winter, the modern ski center Tsare Lazarevski operates in the lake area.

One of the features of the lake is that the water temperature in it does not rise above 20 degrees even in hot weather. summer days. Given the inaccessible location of the lake and its beautiful nature it is not surprising that it is considered an ideal place for lovers of peace and tranquility. In addition to various vegetation, you can see 100 species of birds here. On the lake there is an ancient half-submerged church of St. Nicholas. The flooding of the temple occurred during the creation of an artificial reservoir, but this only increases the flow of tourists to this place (everyone wants to see the church standing in the water). The lake itself looks beautiful in both rainy and sunny weather, making it an ideal place for photo shoots.

Restaurants and hotels are located near the lake, which makes this place even more interesting for tourists. Fishing on the lake is prohibited, although very tasty fish is grown in the reservoir - Macedonian trout (you can try this delicacy in local cafes and restaurants).

The lake is located just 70 kilometers from the capital of Macedonia, Skopje. But first you will need to get to Mavrovo, and then you will have to walk a little, although the walk is not very far.

It is also worth paying attention to National Park Mavrovo is on the outskirts of which the above-mentioned lake is located. The park covers a huge area of ​​730.9 square kilometers. The park has been under state protection since 1948. It is in this park that most of the mountain ranges, which in winter attract lovers of skiing and other winter extreme sports (near the park there is a ski resort of the same name). Most of the park's territory is covered with forests, among which beech predominates. There are also plants that are on the verge of extinction and are found only in the territory of this park. Also rich and animal world this place. Many animals were brought from other countries and adapted to local conditions.

Mountain rivers and waterfalls attract attention, among which it is worth highlighting the Proufel waterfall, whose height reaches 134 meters. In addition to natural attractions, Mavrovo National Park can delight tourists with a number of ancient architectural structures. Among them you can highlight the monastery of St. John the Baptist Bigorski, the picturesque village of Galichnik, and also go down to such interesting place like the Sharkova Dupka cave. This place is always crowded, regardless of the season.

During your holiday in Mavrovo, you can set aside one day to visit the city of Orchid, which is unofficially called the Balkan Jerusalem. This ancient city is located on the shores of the lake of the same name and is primarily famous for its ancient temples. In one of the monasteries of the city, Cyril and Methodius were engaged in the creation of the Cyrillic alphabet.

In addition to sightseeing, during your holiday at the resort you can visit various shops that sell not only souvenirs, but also natural products made of wool, beads, fur, silver, gold and clay.

Various festivals and competitions are regularly held in Mavrovo; if you wish, you can go to a restaurant, sauna or nightclub.

Mavrovo is the largest in Macedonia and one of the oldest national parks in Europe, created in 1949. The park is popular among tourists from different countries peace all year round. Let's get to know him better.

MAVROVO: VARIETY OF LEISURE TYPES

The vast - 73 thousand hectares - territory of the Mavrovo National Park, located in central and western Macedonia, is replete with canyons, pine forests, karst caves and waterfalls. It is easily accessible by road from both Skopje (100 km, about an hour’s drive) and Ohrid.

Here in national park, there is also one of the most important Macedonian monasteries, where tourists are allowed access - the monastery of St. Jovan Bigorski. On the territory of the park there are also the atmospheric villages of Galichnik and Janche, separated mountain range. The villages in Mavrovo are also famous for their cheeses.

The national park provides many opportunities for various types of recreation - winter species sports, ethno-gastronomic tourism, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, guided car excursions

Note that although self-driving tours of the park promise a lot of breathtaking views, tourists need to be careful here: GPS signal reception here is very poor and uneven, and there are very few signs on the roads. Therefore, it is best to visit these places with an experienced local guide-driver rather than on your own. But if you still decide to come not as part of a group, then the friendly “rangers” (keepers) of the park will be able to advise you best direction excursions or walks in the park depending on your interests.

Mavrovo is beautiful in everything - nature, unique rural architecture, and beautiful ancient churches. You can come here not only to a ski resort or on an excursion, but also to stay - in local villages located near Lake Mavrovo or in the mountains there are a sufficient number of accommodation options to suit every taste and budget.

MAVROVO SKI RESORT

Mavrovo National Park is famous, among other things, for the fact that it is here that the highest mountain peaks countries - Shara, Deshad, Bistra, Medenica, and the Great Korab massif. It is in Mavrovo that the highest Mountain peak in Macedonia - Golem Korab peak - 2764 m high from sea level. The Zare Lazarevski ski resort in Mavrovo Park offers tourists a variety of winter sports recreation opportunities - from alpine skiing before snowboarding.

The resort has 14 lifts (including three chairlifts and 11 ski lifts). The total capacity of the lifts is 12 thousand people per hour, the maximum length is 5700 m. Ski slopes here are located at altitudes from 1860 m to 1255 m above sea level, there are slopes for both beginners and ski professionals. The average thickness of the snow cover here is about 70 cm, which makes winter sports possible here from November to April.

MAVROVO OUT OF SKI SEASON

Tourists go to Mavrovo all year round - not only for ski holiday. The national park is home to the largest artificially created lake, which bears the same name as the park. Swimming areas and boat piers have been created on its banks. On the slopes of the mountains surrounding the lake there are picturesque mountain forests and alpine meadows, and clear mountain rivers and streams delight the eye. The shores of the lake are also good for beach holiday in summer, and for interesting photo tours in autumn and spring. The lake itself is located at an altitude of about 1000 m above sea level, so it sometimes freezes in winter. In the center of the lake there is an island with a dilapidated church - another colorful detail that will decorate the panoramic photographs of tourists.

The fauna and flora of Mavrovo are interesting and diverse. The national park is home to a large number of wild animal species - including bears, wolves, otters and the rare Balkan lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus). By the way, Mavrovo is a center where they are working to restore the endangered population of European lynxes.

Mavrovo is home to more than a thousand species of various plants (including more than 100 relict and rare species). This national park is part of southern part so-called The “European Green Belt” is the name given to the collection of natural areas untouched by industrial activity that entered Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain. By the way, medicinal herbs here can be easily collected by hand on the hillsides.

HORSE AND WALKING TOURS FROM GALICHNIK TO MAVROVO PARK

A typical walking tour recommended in Mavrovo National Park starts from Galichnik (where tourists are taken by car), a picturesque mountain village famous for its authentic rural architecture of the 19th century century and ethnographic festivals.

There are many hiking trails around Galichnik, and here tourists spend the whole day - with a break for lunch with traditional dishes of the region. Galichnik is especially famous for its white and yellow cheeses and other dairy products.

Here, in Galichnik, tourists can also take a horseback ride - and also with lunch at a local restaurant, where they will be offered to try local specialties - for example, young lamb prepared in a special way.

The peculiarity of the local horses here is that they are quite short, docile and stable when walking on rough mountainous terrain - so any tourist with any level of training can ride them without fear. Of course, the group is accompanied by an experienced riding instructor.

WEDDING IN GALICHNIKI

Every July on St. Peter's Day local residents and tourists flock to the village of Galichnik, located in the mountains in the western part of the Mavrovo Park, to watch a colorful ethnographic show - a traditional Macedonian wedding.

The folk festival lasts three days: here tourists can see an authentic Macedonian wedding ceremony that has come down to us through the centuries, with dances, songs and folk costume rituals, many of which have their origins in the pre-Christian era, and, of course, a wedding feast. “Wedding in Galicnik” is certainly the pearl of event tourism in Macedonia, which is recommended for visiting by any tourist in the country. Note that the village of Galichnik and its surroundings are picturesque in themselves and can be visited from February to December (before the first snowfalls).

Mavrovo from A to Z: map of hotels and ski areas, slopes and pistes, lifts and ski passes. Vivid photos and video. Reviews of ski tourists about Mavrovo.

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Fabulous, lost in the mountains and extremely picturesque, Macedonia is completely unfamiliar to our skiers. Preferring to ski in the good old Alps or on other spurs of the Balkan Mountains, tourists from Russia somehow don’t even think about the fact that the Macedonian slopes can give them a completely new joy of skiing. Firstly, in a congenial Orthodox state, the population of which speaks a language that is intuitively understandable to all Slavs. Secondly, prices in Macedonia are not just low, but indecently low, especially compared to some Swiss resort. And finally, what may worry ski masters, but we will now please them: the slopes of this friendly country are in no way inferior in quality, and in many ways superior to their Balkan “brothers”. It is no coincidence that every year the European Snowboard Cup, International Slalom Competitions and many other competitions are held on the slopes of one of the most popular Macedonian resorts, Mavrovo.

So, Mavrovo is a famous ski resort in Macedonia, located about 70 km from the capital Skopje at the foot of Mount Bistra. This, by the way, is also one of the most beautiful places in the country, because Mavrovo is located in the national park of the same name next to the cleanest Lake Mavrovskoe.

Local pistes start at an altitude of 1860 m and end at approximately 1255 m. The ski season lasts from November to April.

By the way, you can relax here not only in winter - in summer Mavrovo is no less (if not more) picturesque, hotel doors are open friendly, and trout freshly caught from the lake is waiting for its guests in restaurants.

How to get there

From Mavrovo it is easy to reach both Skopje Airport (about 80 km) and Ohrid Airport (about 55 km), in both cases there are buses. In addition, you can get there by train - the nearest station is Taomiste, located just 10 km from the resort.

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Trails

There are 18 marked trails in Mavropo, which are processed by snow groomers and snow cannons, and are generally monitored for suitability and quality of skiing. There are three yellow runs for beginners, 5 green, 6 blue and 4 black runs for experts. You can get to all this beauty using 3 chairlifts and 11 rope tows. It must be said that Mavrovo’s throughput capacity is impressive - more than 11 thousand people per hour.

By the way, the slopes with chairlifts are also equipped with artificial lighting, so you can ski there even after dark, that is, from about 7 pm. All the fun ends at midnight, so that even frenzied skiers get at least a little glimpse of the cozy and slightly rustic local après ski.

The slopes with chairlifts in Mavrovo are equipped with artificial lighting, so you can ski there even after dark, that is, from about 7 pm.

The resort also has a ski center with equipment rental, instructors (including Russian-speaking ones) and a full-fledged children's school. Fans of cross-country skiing will also not be bored: cross-country trails await them.

The cost of a ski pass in Mavrovo is very, very reasonable (adult/child up to 12 years old): for 1 day 17.8 / 13 EUR; 3 days 50 / 35 EUR; 7 days - 100 / 70 EUR.

Hotels

In Mavrovo you can stay in cozy guesthouses and apartments run by smiling Macedonians, as well as in quality hotels, there is even a decent “four” - Hotel Alpina. Other popular hotels are Makpetrol 3*, Bistra, Lorge or Sport Hotel. All of them are located directly on the slopes of the mountains, next to the ski lifts, so skiing in Mavrovo starts almost “from the doorstep”.

Après-ski includes a disco, a small casino, restaurants and cozy konobas, as well as evening skating, of course.

Entertainment and attractions Mavrovo

The main attraction of Mavrovo is, of course, the mountains. But if you want to take a break from boards, skis and poles, you should definitely visit the bright, quiet monastery of St. Jovan Bigorsky, which rises on the slope of Bistra, 24 km from the resort. The local iconostasis, decorated with deep carvings, is a pearl of religious art.

Just 45-50 km from Mavrovo is Ohrid - the “Jerusalem of the Balkans”. Old City, located on the shores of the lake of the same name, is famous for its amazing ancient temples. In particular, it is worth visiting the Basilica of St. Sophia from the 11th century and the Church of St. Clement from the 13th century, in which Byzantine frescoes of rare beauty have been preserved. In one of the Ohrid monasteries, St. Cyril and Methodius worked on the creation of our Slavic alphabet - the Cyrillic alphabet.

National Park

Finally, it would be unforgivable not to mention the Mavrovo National Park, which bears the same name as the resort. This is one of the largest nature reserves in Macedonia, home to about 600 endemic, endangered or rare plant species.

The fauna of the park is also diverse: 140 species of birds (including the proud peregrine falcon, the somber imperial eagle and the swift golden eagle), 11 species of amphibians, 12 species of reptiles and 38 species of mammals (of course, the bear, the beautiful lynx, the fleet-footed chamois and the graceful forest cat ). It is best to take a walk through the Mavrovo Nature Reserve in the summer and in the company of a guide, otherwise you will get lost at an uneven hour - the places here are amazingly beautiful, but wild.

 

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