Lake or Mountain? Which One Do You Prefer?
In this article you will see the comparison of two well-known cities of Macedonia in different aspects where we highlight the question: Are you a lake or a mountain person?
Our city is beautiful and there are a lot of things to do, but compared to other cities in our country, will you still think the same after you read this article? Let’s see…
Geography and location:
Tetovo is located in the northwestern part of Macedonia and is one of the biggest cities of the country, placed in the center of Polog Valley, near the border with Kosovo.
On the other hand, Ohrid is a smaller city, located in the south-western part of Macedonia, west of Bitola and Resen.
Historical and Cultural Heritage:
Both cities have a rich cultural and historical heritage. Tetovo, for example, has cultural facilities as well as historical mosques and archeological findings, while Ohrid is well known for its ancient architecture, churches and archeological sites.
Ethnic Diversity:
Tetovo is known for its diverse population, including Albanians, Macedonians, Turkish people and other ethnic groups.
Ohrid has a mostly Macedonian population with a smaller mix of other ethnicities.
Tourist Attractions:
Ohrid is a popular tourist destination, known for its scenic Ohrid Lake which serves as a border between the southwestern part of Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Europe’s deepest and oldest lakes.
Then we have the historic churches like the Church of Saint Sophia and Church of Saint Clement. Also, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid are part of the only 28 sites that were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Tetovo, though not as widely recognized, also attracts tourists with its cultural and historical sites like The Colorful Mosque which was built in the 15th century, during the Ottoman rule and Arabati Baba Tekke during the 16th century.
We can’t forget the natural beauty of our city. One of the biggest tourist attractions is Popova Shapka, which is a Ski Resort located in the beautiful Shar Mountain. During the winter season people go skiing and snowboarding, and for the people that don’t, there are a lot of cafés and restaurants to spend time with family, enjoy the snow and the cold weather. Popova Shapka also organizes night skiing and along with that goes a great party with a lot of people and a great Dj playing music.
Educational Institutions:
Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East European University, which is Macedonia’s third largest university after Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and University St. Clement Ohridski in Bitola.
Ohrid also has educational institutions, including the University of Information Science and Technology “St. Paul The Apostle”.
Local Cuisine:
Tetovo is known for its barbecue restaurants, traditional pastries like “burek” and “gevrek”, and we also have “ajvar” which is very popular.
Ohrid is well known for its Ohrid trout and traditional dish “tavche gravche”.
Local Activities:
In Tetovo you can go skiing and hiking in the mountains, visit the cultural monuments, while in Ohrid you can spend time at the beaches by the lake, go fishing, shop at the Old Bazaar and wander around the old town.
I hope all of this information motivates you to come and visit Tetovo and Ohrid, and the beautiful places there are to see.
Now, do you have the answer to the first question I asked you? 🙂
