Enter Ohrid, North Macedonia

Ohrid is the seventh largest city in North Macedonia, located southwest of Skopje, west of Resen and Bitola, and close to the Albanian border. The city of Ohrid is located on the shore of Lake Ohrid and is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. It was mainly built between the 7th and 19th centuries, and there are many ancient buildings in the city such as medieval churches, monasteries, frescoes, castles and towers. Lake Ohrid is an excellent natural landscape that provides shelter for many endemic species of Tertiary freshwater flora and fauna.

Ohrid is one of the oldest cities in Europe. In ancient Greece, this place was deeply influenced by Greek culture. During the ancient Roman Empire, Ohrid was part of ancient Rome. In the 4th century AD, Eastern and Western Rome split, and the Ohrid region became part of the Eastern Roman Empire. Starting from the 6th century AD, a large number of southern Slavs poured into the Balkan Peninsula. One group settled in today's North Macedonia, and another group settled in today's Bulgaria. In 867 AD, the Bulgarians conquered Ohrid. From 990 to 1015, the capital of the Bulgarian Empire was moved to Ohrid, and Ohrid became the religious and cultural center of the entire Balkans. At the end of the 14th century, the city of Ohrid was conquered by the Ottoman Turkish Empire and remained under Turkish rule until 1912. In 1991, North Macedonia became an independent country and Ohrid became an important city in North Macedonia.

Ohrid is an ancient city with beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. The city has many ancient buildings such as medieval churches, monasteries, murals, castles and towers, and is known as the "Pearl of the Balkans". Ohrid is also the administrative center of Ohrid District. The historical city of Ohrid attracts tourists with its many historical sites. In the past, there were 360 ??churches in Ohrid, but only 23 have been preserved to this day. The buildings of the Byzantine era show the glory of the city for hundreds of years, hence the name "Jerusalem of the Balkans".

The architecture of Ohrid represents the best preserved and most complete collection of ancient urban architecture in this part of Europe. So far, seven rectangular synagogues have been discovered during archaeological excavations in the old town of Ohrid. A large number of archaeological sites also enrich the fabric of the city's core, with an emphasis on early Christian cathedrals, famous for their mosaic floors.

The Church of St. Sophia is located in the old town of Ohrid, North Macedonia, adjacent to Lake Ohrid. It is the largest church in Ohrid and the episcopal church of the diocese. Hagia Sophia was built in the 11th century. The church is supported by several Roman columns and is famous for its exquisite Byzantine murals. Hagia Sophia combines Romanesque and Byzantine architectural styles. It was the church of the entire region of North Macedonia from the 11th to the 18th century. The main part of the church was built in the 11th century, and some buildings were added to the outside in the 14th century. The murals inside Hagia Sophia originated from the 11th to 13th centuries. They were the most outstanding representatives of Byzantine painting at that time, and are artistic masterpieces and cultural treasures of this country. These murals tell people the story of a long-gone era. This church is the most important historical site in North Macedonia, representing medieval architecture and art.

Samuel Fortress is located on the north side of the old town of Ohrid, a city in North Macedonia. It was built from 976 to 1014 AD and is the largest existing medieval castle ruins in North Macedonia. one. During the period when Ohrid was the capital of the Bulgarian Empire, the fortress was fully expanded. The fortress occupied the entire top of Ohrid and was surrounded by towers and a 3-kilometer-long solid wall. There were three upper, lower and northern sections. Of the city gates, only the upper gate remains. Samuel's Fortress is one of the largest surviving medieval castle ruins in North Macedonia.

The Church of St. John at Kaneo is located in Ohrid, North Macedonia. The church is built on a cliff beside Lake Ohrid. The Church of St. John of Canio was built in the 13th century and is said to be built in memory of John the Theologian, the apostle of Christ and theologian. This dazzling church stands on the cliff beside Lake Ohrid. It is towering, independent in the sky, and has a sense of solemnity and dignity. The church is reflected in the blue water of Lake Ohrid, with beautiful lake and mountain scenery and elegant scenery. Since the Middle Ages, monks have enjoyed doing spiritual exercises here. The church is vaguely reflected in the blue lake water, with beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains, and elegant scenery. The road leading to the church is also very unique. Walk along the lake in the direction of the setting sun. The church is at the end of a long wooden plank road.

Ohrid Lake is located in the southwest of North Macedonia and the border with Albania. It is the second largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula and one of the oldest lakes in Europe, covering an area of ??approximately 365 square kilometers. meters, 35 kilometers long, 15 kilometers wide, and the deepest point is more than 300 meters. The water of the lake is clear and transparent, the surface of the lake is like a mirror, dark blue, the mountains and waters are beautiful, and the scenery is beautiful.

Lake Ohrid is the deepest lake in the Balkan Peninsula, with the deepest point reaching an astonishing 288 meters. Two-thirds of the total lake area belongs to Macedonia and the remainder to Albania. Thousands of lights and European-style buildings along the lake are reflected in the lake, with light and shadow intertwining like a dream, as if they have recreated another wonderful water world. Ohrid is also known as the "City of Sunshine". In this paradise of sunshine and water, the lake always presents an indescribable deep blue, and the lake waves are as clear as a mirror.

Lake Ohrid provides shelter for many Tertiary endemic and remnant freshwater plant and animal species. Lake Ohrid is a deep and ancient lake of tectonic origin that has persisted for approximately 2 million to 3 million years. There are more than 200 species of endemic flora and fauna in the lake, including algae, planarians, snails, crustaceans and 17 species of endemic fish (including two species of trout). There are also abundant bird species along the coast.

Ohrid is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Ohrid is one of the best-preserved complete architectural complexes, including archaeological remains from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. Ohrid has exemplary religious architecture from the 7th to 19th centuries, as well as displays of vernacular architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. urban structure. They all have real historical, architectural, cultural and artistic value. The religious buildings, murals and icons here bear witness to the area's importance as a religious and cultural center over the centuries.

Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 and expanded in 1980 and 2019, the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region was included as a dual cultural and natural heritage. UNESCO World Heritage Committee World Heritage List.

Written and photographed by Sun Keqin