Bitola, North Macedonia

Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of North Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational center of its region with a population of about 80 000 people. It has been known since the Ottoman period as the “City of Consuls”, since many European countries had consulates in Bitola. Bitola, known during the Ottoman Empire as Manastır or Monastir, is one of the oldest cities in North Macedonia. It was founded as Heraclea Lyncestis in the middle of the 4th century BC by Philip II of Macedon. The city was the last capital of Ottoman Rumelia, from 1836 to 1867. Bitola is the second-largest city in the country.

Pelister National Park is a national park in the Municipality of Bitola, North Macedonia. The park is located in the Baba Mountain massif and covers an area of 171.5 square kilometres (66.2 sq mi). The altitude of the park varies between 927 and 2,601 m (3,041 and 8,533 ft) above sea level and is filled with exquisite flora and fauna. Among flora elements, the presence is especially significant of the five-needle pine molica, Pinus peuce – a unique species of Cenozoic age being present on only a few mountains in the Balkan Peninsula. The beauty of the landscape is enhanced by the diverse wildlife: bears, roe deer, wolves, chamois, deer, wild boars, rabbits, several species of eagles, partridges, red-billed choughs, and the endemic Macedonian Pelagonia trout.

Places to visit in Bitola.

Širok Sokak, meaning “Wide Alley” is a long pedestrian street that runs from Magnolia Square to the City Park.

The Church of Saint Demetrius was built in 1830 with voluntary contributions of local merchants and craftsmen. It is plain on the outside, as all churches in the Ottoman Empire had to be, but lavishly decorated with chandeliers, a carved bishop throne and an engraved iconostasis on the inside.

Ishak Çelebi Mosque

The Ishak Çelebi Mosque is the inheritance of the kadi Ishak Çelebi. In its spacious yard are several tombs, attractive because of the soft, molded shapes of the sarcophagi.

The old bazaar.

The old bazaar is mentioned in a description of the city from the 16th and the 17th centuries.

The Deboj Bath.

The Deboj Bath is a Turkish bath. It is not known when exactly it was constructed. At one point, it was heavily damaged, but after repairs it regained its original appearance: a façade with two large domes and several minor ones.

House of Army.

The House of Army or the House of Officers began in 1909 and the project is believed to be the work of architects from Austria and Italy, and it was built by local builders. The concept of this building was conceived as a synthesis of a fortress and a palace. The fortress can be seen in the composition of the building, through the appearance of “towers” and decorative cannons, while the palace can be seen in its grandeur and elegance, through high ceilings and windows.

Sports.

Manaki Festival of Film and Camera. Held in memory of the first cameramen on the Balkans, Milton Manaki, every September the Film and Photo festival “Brothers Manaki” takes place. It is a combination of documentary and full-length films that are shown. The festival is a world class event with high recognition from the press.  A number of high-profile actors such as Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Victoria Abril, Predrag Manojlovic, Michael York, Juliette Binoche, and Rade Sherbedgia have attended

Ilinden Days. Every year, the traditional folk festival “Ilinden Days” takes place in Bitola. It is a 4-5 day festival of music, songs, and dances that is dedicated to the Ilinden Uprising against the Turks, where the main concentration is placed on the folk culture of North Macedonia. Folk dances and songs are presented with many folklore groups and organizations taking part .

Sports.

The main handball club and most famous sports team from Bitola is RK Eurofarm Pelister. RK Eurofarm Pelister 2 is the second club from the city and both teams play their games at the Sports Hall Boro Čurlevski.

Prepared by: Dusan Stevanovski from Bitola, North Macedonia